Translational Research Research Articles

Beyond the Translation of Initial Meaning: The Localization of Yoruba-bound ICT Terminologies

Research in translation is often centred on issues that bother on literature, language teaching, style, processes, etc. This study examines the translation of Yoruba-bound ICT terminologies beyond their raw meaning as presented by the English language and culture. It deploys localization, the third in the GILT arrangement of Globalization, Internationalization, Localization, and Translation in modern technology translation. The objectives of this study are to: identify certain ICT terminologies in English, describe adoptable strategies for translating the terminologies for Yoruba end-users, examine how the terminologies are understood in the Yoruba locale as intended by the initial meaning, highlight the difficulties involved in the interpretation of the terminologies into Yoruba, propose cultural and linguistic models for translating ICT terminologies from English into the Yoruba language and enable Yoruba end-users of computer system for ICT access information in Yoruba language. The study adopts Bell’s linguistic and psycholinguistic model (1991) to analyze and synthesize the structural organization of linguistic materials of the ICT terminologies and their translation beyond their surface meaning. The study finds out that: the traditional approach of translating Euro-based terminologies by loanwords may yield little result; localizing ICT terminologies will enhance the appreciation of ICT materials by Yoruba end users; difficulties involved in the interpretation of ICT are both linguistic and cultural, and that ICT terminology translators are technical and cultural mediators. The study concludes that the marketing and purchase of ICT products are likely to be more embraced by Yoruba end users with the use of localized expressions to translate them. It recommends that in the world of GILT, translating beyond the initial meaning of the structure of linguistic materials of the ICT terminologies is a snapshot.

Editorial: Clinical evidence for and advances in translational research on the classic formulas of traditional Chinese medicine

Central conducting lymphatic anomaly: from bench to bedside.

Central conducting lymphatic anomaly (CCLA) is a complex lymphatic anomaly characterized by abnormalities of the central lymphatics and may present with nonimmune fetal hydrops, chylothorax, chylous ascites, or lymphedema. CCLA has historically been difficult to diagnose and treat; however, recent advances in imaging, such as dynamic contrast magnetic resonance lymphangiography, and in genomics, such as deep sequencing and utilization of cell-free DNA, have improved diagnosis and refined both genotype and phenotype. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo models have confirmed genetic causes of CCLA, defined the underlying pathogenesis, and facilitated personalized medicine to improve outcomes. Basic, translational, and clinical science are essential for a bedside-to-bench and back approach for CCLA.

Gastrointestinal Acute Radiation Syndrome: Mechanisms, Models, Markers, and Medical Countermeasures.

There have been a number of reported human exposures to high dose radiation, resulting from accidents at nuclear power plants (e.g., Chernobyl), atomic bombings (Hiroshima and Nagasaki), and mishaps in industrial and medical settings. If absorbed radiation doses are high enough, evolution of acute radiation syndromes (ARS) will likely impact both the bone marrow as well as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Damage incurred in the latter can lead to nutrient malabsorption, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, altered microbiome and metabolites, and impaired barrier function, which can lead to septicemia and death. To prepare for a medical response should such an incident arise, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) funds basic and translational research to address radiation-induced GI-ARS, which remains a critical and prioritized unmet need. Areas of interest include identification of targets for damage and mitigation, animal model development, and testing of medical countermeasures (MCMs) to address GI complications resulting from radiation exposure. To appropriately model expected human responses, it is helpful to study analogous disease states in the clinic that resemble GI-ARS, to inform on best practices for diagnosis and treatment, and translate them back to inform nonclinical drug efficacy models. For these reasons, the NIAID partnered with two other U.S. government agencies (the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and the Food and Drug Administration), to explore models, biomarkers, and diagnostics to improve understanding of the complexities of GI-ARS and investigate promising treatment approaches. A two-day workshop was convened in August 2022 that comprised presentations from academia, industry, healthcare, and government, and highlighted talks from 26 subject matter experts across five scientific sessions. This report provides an overview of information that was presented during the conference, and important discussions surrounding a broad range of topics that are critical for the research, development, licensure, and use of MCMs for GI-ARS.

Availability and Access to Orphan Drugs for Rare Cancers in Bulgaria: Analysis of Delays and Public Expenditures

Rare cancers are defined by an annual incidence of fewer than 6 per 100,000. Bearing similarities to rare diseases, they are associated with substantial health inequalities due to diagnostic complexity and delayed access to innovative therapies. This situation is further aggravated in Southeastern European countries like Bulgaria, where limited public resources and expertise underscore the need for additional policy and translational research on rare cancers. This study aimed to explore the availability and access to orphan drugs for rare cancers in Bulgaria for the period of 2020–2023. We cross-compared data from both the European Union and national public sources to evaluate the number of available and accessible orphan drugs for rare cancers, the delay from market authorization to reimbursement, the dynamics of public expenditures, and regional disparities in access across the country. We juxtaposed the main characteristics of oncological and non-oncological orphan drugs as well. Only 15 out of 50 oncological orphan drugs that were authorized by the European Medicine Agency were accessible for rare cancer patients in Bulgaria. The median delay between market authorization and inclusion in the Bulgarian Positive Drug List was 760 days. The total expenditures for all orphan drugs for rare cancers amounted to EUR 74,353,493 from 2020 to 2023. The budgetary impact of this group rose from 0.24% to 3.77% of total public medicinal product expenditures for the study period. Rare cancer patients represent a vulnerable population that often faces limited to no access to treatment. We call for targeted European and national policies to address this major inequality.

Current state of endothelial cell therapy.

Currently, there is heightened interest surrounding endothelial cell therapy for the treatment of corneal edema. The purpose of this review article is to describe and summarize the background information as well as the research surrounding the emerging treatment modalities for endothelial cell therapy. Marked advancements have been made in the translational research in this area, and increasing refinements have been demonstrated in the treatment protocols for cell therapy. Human clinical trials in this field are ongoing, specifically, in the area of injected human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs), with early results showing favorable safety and efficacy profiles. Efficient and effective delivery of HCECs to patients with corneal edema and dysfunction now appears feasible, and the results from ongoing human clinical trials are much anticipated. Adjunct therapeutics-in the form of pharmacological agents and/or surgical techniques, such as descemetorhexis-will likely continue to play an important role in defining the future of endothelial cell therapy.

Baseball, Presidents, and State Test Passages: Considering Gendered Knowledge in Literacy Research, Curricula, and Assessments

AbstractThe role of knowledge and reading comprehension has seen a recent explosion of attention from researchers, journalists, and policy advocates. Much of this discourse describes knowledge in neutral terms such as knowledge of “the world”. That knowledge of the world, however, is woven into the fabric of the gendered world we live in and its gendered education systems. In this article, we delve into three “exhibits” to highlight gendered aspects of knowledge and comprehension research and practice. In the first exhibit, we demonstrate the gendered nature of knowledge research by examining the male‐centric participant sampling and measurement design of baseball knowledge studies, which are widely cited in translational science and practitioner articles about knowledge and literacy curriculum. We then examine the gendered nature of knowledge curriculum by looking at a male‐centric unit from a popular knowledge‐focused curriculum, Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA). Then, we present data about the gender of authors whose passages are selected for state ELA assessments, finding that women authors are overrepresented in the elementary and underrepresented in the high school grades. As former K‐12 teachers and current researchers engaged with the everyday work of literacy teaching, we agree that knowledge‐rich curriculum supports students’ reading comprehension. Still, we call for researchers and educators to interrogate gendered discourse around knowledge and comprehension to avoid reproducing traditional gender inequities.

Recovery Animals in Toxicology Studies: An Innovation and Quality Consortium Perspective on Best Practices With Case Study Examples.

The inclusion of recovery animals in nonclinical safety studies that support clinical trials is undertaken with a wide diversity of approaches even while operating under harmonized regulatory guidance. While empirical evaluation of reversibility may enhance the overall nonclinical risk assessment, there are often overlooked opportunities to reduce recovery animal use by leveraging robust scientific and regulatory information. In the past, there were several attempts to benchmark recovery practices; however, recommendations have not been consistently applied across the pharmaceutical industry. A working group (WG) sponsored by the 3Rs Translational and Predictive Sciences Leadership Group of the IQ Consortium conducted a survey of current industry practice related to the evaluation of reversibility/recovery in repeat dose toxicity studies. Discussion among the WG representatives included member company strategies and case studies that highlight challenges and opportunities for continuous refinements in the use of recovery animals. The case studies presented in this paper demonstrate increasing alignment with the Society of Toxicologic Pathology recommendations (2013) towards (1) excluding recovery phase cohorts by default (include only when scientifically justified), (2) minimizing the number of recovery groups (e.g., control and one dose level), and (3) excluding controls in the recovery cohort by leveraging external and/or dosing phase data. Recovery group exclusion and decisions regarding the timing of reversibility evaluation may be driven by indication, modality, and/or other scientific or strategic factors using a weight of evidence approach. The results and recommendations discussed present opportunities to further decrease animal use without impacting the quality of human risk assessment.

Abstracts of the 17th UK Neuromuscular Translational Research Conference, 17th and 18th April 2024

Global trends of acupuncture clinical research on analgesia from 2010 to 2023: a bibliometric and visualization analysis

ObjectiveAcupuncture, acknowledged as a potent non-pharmacological therapy, is frequently employed to alleviate pain. Despite its widespread use, there has been a lack of overarching bibliometric analysis of clinical research on acupuncture analgesia. We aimed to summarize current patterns, hotspots, and development trends in this field through bibliometric analysis.MethodsThis study evaluates academic publications retrieved from the Web of Science database (2010.01–2023.09) concerning acupuncture analgesia in clinical settings. All primary and secondary studies on humans were included. To track global developmental trends, we employed several software for analyzing annual publication volumes, countries/regions, institutions, authors, cited authors, journals, cited journals, references, and keywords and to draw collaborative networks and reference co-citation network maps.ResultsThe final search encompassed 7,190 relevant studies, including 1,263 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 1,293 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The results indicated a gradual increase in the number of annual publications on acupuncture analgesia in clinical practice. Among countries and institutions, China (2,139) and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (258) ranked first. Liang FR (89 articles) was the most prolific author, while MacPherson H (604) was the most cited author. MEDICINE (455) was the most productive journal, and Pain (2,473/0.20) ranked first in both the frequency and centrality of cited journals. Notably, the most frequently cited reference was a systematic review of individual patient data on acupuncture carried out for chronic pain that was published by Vickers Andrew J in 2012 (156). Burst analysis identified frontier research areas for 2010–2020, encompassing network meta-analysis, case reports, dry needling, lumbar disc herniation, cancer, post-herpetic neuralgia, insomnia, and bibliometric analysis.ConclusionThis study outlines current trends and potential future research hotspots in clinical acupuncture analgesia over the past decade. Findings emphasize the necessity for enhanced international collaboration to improve research output and translation.

An open source knowledge graph ecosystem for the life sciences.

Translational research requires data at multiple scales of biological organization. Advancements in sequencing and multi-omics technologies have increased the availability of these data, but researchers face significant integration challenges. Knowledge graphs (KGs) are used to model complex phenomena, and methods exist to construct them automatically. However, tackling complex biomedical integration problems requires flexibility in the way knowledge is modeled. Moreover, existing KG construction methods provide robust tooling at the cost of fixed or limited choices among knowledge representation models. PheKnowLator (Phenotype Knowledge Translator) is a semantic ecosystem for automating the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) construction of ontologically grounded KGs with fully customizable knowledge representation. The ecosystem includes KG construction resources (e.g., data preparation APIs), analysis tools (e.g., SPARQL endpoint resources and abstraction algorithms), and benchmarks (e.g., prebuilt KGs). We evaluated the ecosystem by systematically comparing it to existing open-source KG construction methods and by analyzing its computational performance when used to construct 12 different large-scale KGs. With flexible knowledge representation, PheKnowLator enables fully customizable KGs without compromising performance or usability.

Priority setting: Development of the South Australian Aboriginal Chronic Disease Consortium RoadMap for Action.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people in South Australia are overburdened by cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. The South Australian Aboriginal Chronic Disease Consortium (Consortium) was established in June 2017 as a collaborative partnership to lead the implementation of three state-wide chronic disease plans using a strategic approach to identifying key priority areas for action. In 2017-2018, the Consortium Coordinating Centre facilitated a priority setting process, which involved extensive consultation, including a prioritisation survey and stakeholder workshops. The Consortium's Aboriginal Community Reference Group was instrumental in leading the identification of priorities for action. The Consortium RoadMap for Action identified seven across-plan priorities and six condition-specific priorities. It acknowledged that: strengthening social and emotional well-being is central to improving health outcomes; prevention and early detection, acute management and ongoing management are all components of the continuum of care; and improving access to services, strengthening the workforce, and monitoring and evaluation are required across the continuum of care. Widespread implementation failure in the past across the health system and health services implementation and research translation highlights the value of the Consortium approach and its commitment to implementing the state-wide chronic disease plans in a collaborative manner. The Consortium relies on and fosters cross-sectoral alignment, with all key players including all public, private and Aboriginal Community Controlled health services, to progress its priorities and aspirations to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people using evidence-based strategies. SO WHAT?: Rigorous and transparent priority setting processes that bring together research, clinical practice, health services operations, policy and community perspectives can foster intersectoral collaboration and partnership and support the implementation of shared priorities.

Changes in high-frequency aperiodic 1/f slope and periodic activity reflect post-stimulus functional inhibition in the visual cortex

Abstract It has been shown that cessation of intensive sensory stimulation is associated with a transient increase in functional inhibition in the sensory cortical areas. However, the electrophysiological correlates of this post-stimulus inhibition in the human brain have not been thoroughly investigated. To investigate post-stimulus inhibition, we analyzed magnetoencephalogram (MEG) recorded at rest and after cessation of visual stimulation of varying intensity (high-contrast gratings drifting at a slow, medium, or high rate) in 25 healthy women aged 18-40 years. We analyzed condition- and intensity-related changes in MEG parameters sensitive to functional inhibition: periodic alpha-beta power, peak alpha frequency (PAF), and 1/f aperiodic slope. We also investigated the association of these parameters with sensory sensitivity and avoidance assessed by a questionnaire. To evaluate the influence of hormonal status on the studied parameters, participants were examined twice, during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle (MC). Regardless of the MC phase, increasing drift rate of visual gratings resulted in a proportional increase of post-stimulus posterior alpha-beta power, PAF, and a negative shift of the aperiodic (1/f) slope of the power spectrum in the high-frequency range. Compared to rest, the post-stimulus periods were characterized by higher PAF, more negative 1/f slope in posterior cortical areas, and a widespread increase in beta power. While condition- and drift-rate-dependent modulations of alpha-beta power and 1/f slope were correlated, changes in PAF did not correlate with either of them. A greater intensity-dependent increase in visual alpha-beta power predicted higher subjective sensory sensitivity/avoidance, suggesting stronger regulatory top-down modulation of the visual cortex in individuals with heightened sensitivity. Our results show that several MEG parameters concordantly indicate a post-stimulus enhancement of inhibition that is proportional to the intensity of the preceding visual stimulation. While post-stimulus changes in alpha-beta power and 1/f slope may share some common mechanisms, changes in PAF reflect a distinct aspect of inhibitory regulation. Our results inform potential inhibition-based biomarkers for clinical and translational research.

How to explain the beneficial effects of platelet-rich plasma.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is the platelet and leukocyte-containing plasmatic fraction of anticoagulated autologous blood. While evidence supporting the clinical use of PRP in dentistry is low, PRP is widely used in sports medicine, orthopedics, and dermatology. Its beneficial activity is commonly attributed to the growth factors released from platelets accumulating in PRP; however, evidence is indirect and not comprehensive. There is thus a demand to revisit PRP with respect to basic and translational science. This review is to (i) recapitulate protocols and tools to prepare PRP; (ii) to discuss the cellular and molecular composition of PRP with a focus on platelets, leukocytes, and the fibrin-rich extracellular matrix of coagulated plasma; and finally (iii) to discuss potential beneficial effects of PRP on a cellular and molecular level with an outlook on its current use in dentistry and other medical fields.

Utilizing Machine Learning Techniques for Classifying Translated and Non-Translated Corporate Annual Reports

ABSTRACT Globalization has led to the widespread adoption of translated corporate annual reports in international markets. Nonetheless, it remains largely unexplored whether these translated documents fulfill the same function and communicate as effectively to international investors as their non-translated counterparts. Considering their significance to stakeholders, differentiating between these two types of reports is essential, yet research in this area is insufficient. This study seeks to bridge this gap by leveraging machine learning algorithms to classify corporate annual reports based on their translation status. By constructing corpora of comparable texts and employing thirteen syntactic complexity indices as features, we analyzed the reports using eight different algorithms: Naïve Bayes, Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, k-Nearest Neighbors, Neural Network, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting and Deep Learning. Additionally, ensemble models were created by combining the three most effective algorithms. The best-performing model in our study achieved an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 99.3%. This innovative approach demonstrates the effectiveness of syntactic complexity indices in machine learning for classifying translational language in corporate reporting, contributing valuable insights to text classification and translational language research. Our findings offer critical implications for stakeholders in multilingual contexts, highlighting the need for further research in this field.

Thematic analysis of stakeholder perceptions for co-creative healthcare XR resource design and development; traversing a minefield of opportunities

IntroductionThe expansive curricular volume of healthcare education makes a necessity the incorporation of innovative methods and immersive media in it. The core challenge in such approaches is the timely development of relevant immersive content such as Virtual, Augmented or Mixed Reality (VR/AR/MR) resources for healthcare topics. There is currently significant interest in the use of co-creative methods for streamlining immersive content development.MethodsA core research pursuit in this translational research field is the formulation of evidence-based, optimized workflows that streamline immersive content creation allowing for rapid expansion of innovative educational approaches in healthcare curricula. The purpose of this paper is to aggregate the perceptions of healthcare technologists and educators who participated in a series of co-creation sessions in order to elicit their best practice insights for design and development of XR educational resources using co-creative methods.ResultsAccording to our thematic analysis, findings of the qualitative study demonstrated that a rigorous organizational approach is required to maintain a constructive exchange of information and to keep the design process alive for both content and technical experts. In addition, rapid prototype and display of co-created features can empower their contributions and help them design more efficiently.DiscussionCo-creative content production can benefit from adaption of existing frameworks and lightweight authoring environments that can facilitate generalized XR content development use cases.

Engineering of Zinc Finger Nucleases Through Structural Modeling Improves Genome Editing Efficiency in Cells.

Genome Editing is widely used in biomedical research and medicine. Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) are smaller in size than transcription activator-like effector (TALE) nucleases (TALENs) and CRISPR-Cas9. Therefore, ZFN-encoding DNAs can be easily packaged into a viral vector with limited cargo space, such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, for in vivo and clinical applications. ZFNs have great potential for translational research and clinical use. However, constructing functional ZFNs and improving their genome editing efficiency is extremely difficult. Here, the efficient construction of functional ZFNs and the improvement of their genome editing efficiency using AlphaFold, Coot, and Rosetta are described. Plasmids encoding ZFNs consisting of six fingers using publicly available zinc-finger resources are assembled. Two functional ZFNs from the ten ZFNs tested are successfully obtained. Furthermore, the engineering of ZFNs using AlphaFold, Coot, or Rosetta increases the efficiency of genome editing by 5%, demonstrating the effectiveness of engineering ZFNs based on structural modeling.

Difficulties in Accessing the List and Full Text of the Defended PhD Theses from Medical Schools: a Retrospective Case Study from Croatia

Objective. To conduct scientometric studies on PhD (“Doctor of Philosophy”) theses (i.e., doctoral theses), researchers should be able to access the theses. We aimed to explore how to obtain a list and full text of the defended PhD theses from medical schools in Croatia over 30 years (from the beginning of 1992 to the end of 2021).
 Methods. We tried to obtain information from the Croa- tian Bureau of Statistics, the National and University Library in Zagreb (NSK), universities, medical schools and online reposito- ries.
 Results. We could not find a single list (source) of all PhD theses. Based on 4 different sources (website of the University of Zagreb and Medical School in Rijeka; school administrator from Split; library catalog from Osijek), we gathered information that from the beginning of 1992 to the end of 2021, there were 2955 PhD theses defended at medical schools in Croatia – 357 in Osijek, 550 in Rijeka, 337 in Split and 1711 in Zagreb. In May 2022, the online Croatian Digital Dissertations Repository contained 631 (22%) of full-text theses in Portable Document Format (PDF). University of Zagreb School of Medicine has its own repository that holds the full text of 834 (49%) of their PhD theses. One of the three PhD programs of the University of Split School of Medicine, namely Translational Research in Biomedicine (TRIBE), published full texts of all PhD theses defended at that program on its website. NSK held 2650 (90%) of the theses in a printed version.
 Conclusion. It was extremely challenging to access the list and full texts of doctoral theses defended in Croatia. Making PhD theses publicly available would ensure transparency and enable analyses that should improve scientific policy.

Artificial Intelligence, Lymphoid Neoplasms, and Prediction of MYC, BCL2, and BCL6 Gene Expression Using a Pan-Cancer Panel in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Background: Artificial intelligence in medicine is a field that is rapidly evolving. Machine learning and deep learning are used to improve disease identification and diagnosis, personalize disease treatment, analyze medical images, evaluate clinical trials, and speed drug development. Methods: First, relevant aspects of AI are revised in a comprehensive manner, including the classification of hematopoietic neoplasms, types of AI, applications in medicine and hematological neoplasia, generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs), and the architecture and interpretation of feedforward neural net-works (multilayer perceptron). Second, a series of 233 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients treated with rituximab-CHOP from the Lymphoma/Leukemia Molecular Profiling Project (LLMPP) was analyzed. Results: Using conventional statistics, the high expression of MYC and BCL2 was associated with poor survival, but high BCL6 was associated with a favorable overall survival of the patients. Then, a neural network predicted MYC, BCL2, and BCL6 with high accuracy using a pan-cancer panel of 758 genes of immuno-oncology and translational research that includes clinically relevant actionable genes and pathways. A comparable analysis was performed using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Conclusions: The mathematical way in which neural networks reach conclusions has been considered a black box, but a careful understanding and evaluation of the architectural design allows us to interpret the results logically. In diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, neural networks are a plausible data analysis approach.

Integrating Upper-Limb Prostheses with the Human Body: Technology Advances, Readiness, and Roles in Human-Prosthesis Interaction.

Significant advances in bionic prosthetics have occurred in the past two decades. The field's rapid expansion has yielded many exciting technologies that can enhance the physical, functional, and cognitive integration of a prosthetic limb with a human. We review advances in the engineering of prosthetic devices and their interfaces with the human nervous system, as well as various surgical techniques for altering human neuromusculoskeletal systems for seamless human-prosthesis integration. We discuss significant advancements in research and clinical translation, focusing on upper limb prosthetics since they heavily rely on user intent for daily operation, although many discussed technologies have been extended to lower limb prostheses as well. In addition, our review emphasizes the roles of advanced prosthetics technologies in complex interactions with humans and the technology readiness levels (TRLs) of individual research advances. Finally, we discuss current gaps and controversies in the field and point out future research directions, guided by TRLs.