Overcoming cultural constraints in translating English series: a case study of subtitling family guy into Arabic

Subtitling and dubbing foreign animation in Arabic have been growing since TV screens reached Arab homes. This imposes stricter control and ethical supervision of the used language. This study examines the cultural constraints in subtitling the American animated sitcom Family Guy into Arabic. Family Guy addresses sensitive matters, such as sex, alcohol, religion, and politics, and so it is viewed with concern and caution in the Arab world. The researchers classified the cultural constraints in translation into three main categories: religious remarks, jokes & humour that revolve around proper nouns, and taboos. The analysis shows that the strategies used in translating religious remarks were scene deletion, words omission, and words omission with justifications. For jokes and humour, the translator opted for three strategies, namely, retain unchanged, retain unchanged with added guidance and retain unchanged with detailed explanation. Euphemistic expressions and word omission were the two strategies followed in translating taboos. The study concludes that the target audience has a vital role in determining the appropriate constraints on translation that go in line with their ideology and culture

Proteasome Inhibition Represses Unfolded Protein Response and Nox4, Sensitizing Vascular Cells to Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Death

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has pathophysiological relevance in vascular diseases and merges with proteasome function. Proteasome inhibition induces cell stress and may have therapeutic implications. However, whether proteasome inhibition potentiates ER stress-induced apoptosis and the possible mechanisms involved in this process are unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we show that proteasome inhibition with MG132, per se at non-lethal levels, sensitized vascular smooth muscle cells to caspase-3 activation and cell death during ER stress induced by tunicamycin (Tn). This effect was accompanied by suppression of both proadaptive (KDEL chaperones) and proapoptotic (CHOP/GADD153) unfolded protein response markers, although, intriguingly, the splicing of XBP1 was markedly enhanced and sustained. In parallel, proteasome inhibition completely prevented ER stress-induced increase in NADPH oxidase activity, as well as increases in Nox4 isoform and protein disulfide isomerase mRNA expression. Increased Akt phosphorylation due to proteasome inhibition partially offset the proapoptotic effect of Tn or MG132. Although proteasome inhibition enhanced oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species scavenging had no net effect on sensitization to Tn or MG132-induced cell death. Conclusion/Relevance: These data indicate unfolded protein response-independent pathways whereby proteasome inhibition sensitizes vascular smooth muscle to ER stress-mediated cell death. This may be relevant to understand the therapeutic potential of such compounds in vascular disease associated with increased neointimal hyperplasia.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)[04/13683-0]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)[09/54764-6]Instituto Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnologia de Processos Redox em BioMedicina (Redoxoma, INCT, CNPq)Fundacao Zerbin

Topology optimized multi-functional mechanically reconfigurable meta-optics studied at microwave frequencies

Metasurfaces advanced the field of optics by reducing the thickness of optical components and merging multiple functionalities into a single layer device. However, this generally comes with a reduction in performance, especially for multifunctional and broadband applications. Three-dimensional metastructures can provide the necessary degrees of freedom for advanced applications, while maintaining minimal thickness. This work explores 3D mechanically reconfigurable devices that perform focusing, spectral demultiplexing, and polarization sorting based on mechanical configuration. As proof of concept, a rotatable device, auxetic device, and a shearing-based device are designed with adjoint-based topology optimization, 3D-printed, and measured at microwave frequencies (7.6-11.6 GHz) in an anechoic chamber

Purine nucleotides reduce superoxide production by nitric oxide synthase in a murine sepsis model

Sepsis involves a systemic inflammatory response of multiple endogenous mediators, resulting in many of the injurious and sometimes fatal physiological symptoms of the disease. This systemic activation leads to a compromised vascular response and endothelial dysfunction. Purine nucleotides interact with purinoceptors and initiate a variety of physiological processes that play an important role in maintaining cardiovascular function. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of ATP on vascular function in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model of sepsis. LPS induced a significant increase in aortic superoxide production 16 h after injection. Addition of ATP to the organ bath incubation solution reduced superoxide production by the aortas of endotoxemic animals. Reactive Blue, an antagonist of the P2Y receptor, blocked the effect of ATP on superoxide production, and the nonselective P2Y agonist MeSATP inhibited superoxide production. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition by L-NAME blocked vascular relaxation and reduced superoxide production in LPS-treated animals. In the presence of L-NAME there was no ATP effect on superoxide production. A vascular reactivity study showed that ATP increased maximal relaxation in LPS-treated animals compared to controls. The presence of ATP induced increases in Akt and endothelial NOS phosphorylated proteins in the aorta of septic animals. ATP reduces superoxide release resulting in an improved vasorelaxant response. Sepsis may uncouple NOS to produce superoxide. We showed that ATP through Akt pathway phosphorylated endothelial NOS and “re-couples” NOS function.FAPES

Treatment Response of Gingival Squamous-Cell Carcinoma to Palliative Intent Immunotherapy

The use of PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor medications has become a common practice in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous-cell carcinomas. Success in this setting has led to the investigation of their efficacy in locally advanced cases as a part of first-line therapy. In this report, we detail the treatment response to palliative intent immunotherapy of three geriatric patients with mandibular gingival squamous-cell carcinoma who decided against surgical intervention. Patient #1 was treated with pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, and displayed complete clinical and radiologic response of the gingival mass after three months of treatment, which is ongoing at 19 months from initiation. Patients #2 and 3 are each on treatment with single-agent pembrolizumab, with partial response of their tumors, minimal side effects, and ongoing response at 9 and 5 months of treatment, respectively. Durable clinical treatment response to palliative immunotherapy, as is evident in this report, warrants further consideration and investigation in the geriatric population. With appropriate patient selection, surgery may be avoided and allow patients to prioritize quality of life over curative intent surgery