bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality Control in the Subtitling Industry: An Exploratory Survey Study
Authors: Robert Isabelle S. , Remael Aline
Published: April 2017

Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) are central to translation practice and research today, as is translation revision, which, today, is increasingly seen as an integral part of quality monitoring. Revision is also explicitly mentioned as a quality requirement in the European Standard for Translation Services EN 15 038, issued by the European Committee for Standardization (2006). Quality issues have also been a recurring topic at audiovisual translation (AVT) conferences, but in AVT, practice levels of QA and QC appear to be subject to fluctuations, and AVT research into QA and QC, including revision, is quite limited. This article will first clarify a number of terminological issues, discuss some of the relevant literature on translation and revision quality parameters and procedures, and report on a detailed survey conducted in 2013 on QA and QC practices in the subtitling industry.
Communicative Rituals and Audiovisual Translation – Representation of Otherness in Film Subtitles
Authors: Guillot Marie-Noëlle
Published: April 2017

In a contrastive study of front door rituals between friends in Australia and France (Béal and Traverso 2010), the interactional practices observed in the corpus collected are shown to exhibit distinctive verbal and non-verbal features, despite similarities. The recurrence of these features is interpreted as evidence of a link between conversational style and underlying cultural values.

Like contrastive work in cross-cultural pragmatics more generally, this conclusion raises questions of representation from an audiovisual and audiovisual translation perspective: how are standard conversational routines depicted in film dialogues and in their translation in subtitling or dubbing? What are the implications of these textual representations for audiences? These questions serve as platform for the case study in this article, of greetings and other communicative rituals in a dataset of two French and one Spanish contemporary films and their subtitles in English. They are addressed from an interactional cross-cultural pragmatics perspective and draw on Fowler’s Theory of Mode (1991, 2000) to assess subtitles’ potential to mean cross-culturally as text.
Orphée contre Hermès : traduction, herméneutique et imaginaire (esquisses)
Authors: Raimondo Riccardo
Published: April 2017

On pourrait synthétiser les approches de la traduction à l’aide de deux figures mythiques opposées : Hermès et Orphée. Le premier est métaphore d’une traduction herméneutique qu’on pourrait dire sourcière, visant à transposer le sens. De l’autre côté demeure Orphée, personnage qui tâtonne dans l’obscurité des formes et qui est métaphore d’une traduction qu’on pourrait qualifier de cibliste, visant le style. Mais on pourrait envisager une autre voie de la traduction, celle d’Apollon : voie mystérieuse de récréation et révélation. Nous aborderons ces trois métaphores à travers quatre traductions du premier sonnet du Chansonnier de Pétrarque : celles de Louis Aragon, de Gérard Genot, d’Yves Bonnefoy et de Jean-Yves Masson.
Shifts in Patronage Differentiation: Translation from European Languages in Isolationist Japan
Authors: Hadley James
Published: April 2017

This article demonstrates that translation patronage can shift imperceptibly between being undifferentiated and differentiated. It focuses on the passage of time as a factor that could be added to Lefevere’s conceptualization of patronage. Currently this conceptualization approaches history as a series of snapshots, with little focus on transition, most importantly, between one form of patronage and another. With an overview of the development of translation patronage in early modern Japanese history, this article explores the dynamics of translation patronage over a period of well over two centuries, when the country maintained a policy of national isolationism. Under this policy, Christianity became absolutely taboo, and those associated with it were regarded with utmost suspicion. Yet, limited international trade was permitted to continue by a state-owned collegium of interpreters. Under this system, the patronage of translators in Japan was extremely undifferentiated, being obtained solely from governmental sources. However, before the end of this system, patronage had already shifted to a differentiated model, in which translation services were being sought by a wide range of parties beyond the government.
Structural insights into the molecular mechanisms of myasthenia gravis and their therapeutic implications
Authors: Noridomi Kaori , Watanabe Go , Hansen Melissa N , Han Gye Won , Chen Lin
Published: April 2017

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a major target of autoantibodies in myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune disease that causes neuromuscular transmission dysfunction. Despite decades of research, the molecular mechanisms underlying MG have not been fully elucidated. Here, we present the crystal structure of the nAChR α1 subunit bound by the Fab fragment of mAb35, a reference monoclonal antibody that causes experimental MG and competes with ~65% of antibodies from MG patients. Our structures reveal for the first time the detailed molecular interactions between MG antibodies and a core region on nAChR α1. These structures suggest a major nAChR-binding mechanism shared by a large number of MG antibodies and the possibility to treat MG by blocking this binding mechanism. Structure-based modeling also provides insights into antibody-mediated nAChR cross-linking known to cause receptor degradation. Our studies establish a structural basis for further mechanistic studies and therapeutic development of MG.
Switching of metabolic programs in response to light availability is an essential function of the cyanobacterial circadian output pathway
Authors: Puszynska Anna M , O'Shea Erin K
Published: April 2017

The transcription factor RpaA is the master regulator of circadian transcription in cyanobacteria, driving genome-wide oscillations in mRNA abundance. Deletion of rpaA has no effect on viability in constant light conditions, but renders cells inviable in cycling conditions when light and dark periods alternate. We investigated the mechanisms underlying this viability defect, and demonstrate that the rpaA- strain cannot maintain appropriate energy status at night, does not accumulate carbon reserves during the day, and is defective in transcription of genes crucial for utilization of carbohydrate stores at night. Reconstruction of carbon utilization pathways combined with provision of an external carbon source restores energy charge and viability of the rpaA- strain in light/dark cycling conditions. Our observations highlight how a circadian output pathway controls and temporally coordinates essential pathways in carbon metabolism to maximize fitness of cells facing periodic energy limitations.
Use of Psychological Techniques in Classroom Management with Arab context
Authors: Hakim Badia
Published: April 2017

The said study focuses on the importance of effective use of psychological techniques in classroom management in Arab context. Pragmatic studies have established the effects of change in behavior on learning abilities of the students. This study scrutinizes the enhancement in investigation to confirm cognitive enhancement and stimulus among learners as it is significant so as to keep the discipline and boost the acquisition context in the class. The notion of the cognitive manner has dignity of uniqueness and inevitability in bringing about prime changes in the academic performance as well as behavior of the students. Psychological techniques have an impact on the course of academic performance of a student and determine the path of success in    order    to   gain    desired   results.   For this study    several psychological techniques were focused that can effectively be applied in the class controlling. This research also focused on the mapping out of the relationship between learning and discipline.  The researcher observed two classrooms at the English Language institute (women’s main campus) having same instructors for two modules. This study describes the lethal effects of bitter behavior with the learners who produce a context where students’ behavior turns aggressive and learning abilities get negatively affected.  Though, this is imperative and of integral importance to evaluates the efficacy of cognitive procedures in class controlling and order. Further, the cognitive requirements of the learners should be observed so as to gauge the correct measures taken to enhance the learning process.  Involving peer checking at this level to observe and get more reliable and valid result is also a great scenario.
What Are Uterine Fibroids?
Authors: Voelker Rebecca
Published: October 2024

This JAMA Patient Page describes uterine fibroids, their signs and symptoms, diagnosis procedures, and treatment options.
A 9-Year-Old Child With a Large Thoracic Mass
Authors: Chen Chenghao , Yu Jie , Zeng Qi
Published: October 2024

A healthy 9-year-old had 10 days of nonproductive cough without fever, wheeze, chest pain, or abdominal pain but with diminished breath sounds in the right lower lung field. Results of laboratory testing were unremarkable; computed tomography revealed a fat-density mass in the right anterior mediastinum. What is the diagnosis and what would you do next?
Amid the Wait
Authors: Bishop Cia Merin
Published: October 2024

In this narrative medicine essay, a pediatric palliative care physician undergoing in vitro fertilization extends her compassionate solidarity to female physicians who, like her, are anxious to start their families.
Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Authors: Pizzo Alex , Leisenring Wendy M. , Stratton Kayla L. , Lamoureux Élisabeth , Flynn Jessica S. , Alschuler Kevin , Krull Kevin R. , Jibb Lindsay A. , Nathan Paul C. , Olgin Jeffrey E. , Stinson Jennifer N. , Armstrong Gregory T. , Alberts Nicole M.
Published: October 2024

Importance

Fear of cancer recurrence is common among survivors of adult-onset cancer and associated with increased distress, functional impairment, and health care utilization. However, little is known about the prevalence and risk factors of fear of cancer recurrence among adult survivors of childhood cancer who are also at high risk for subsequent malignant neoplasms.

Objective

To characterize the prevalence of and risk factors for clinically significant fear of cancer recurrence in adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional investigation included participants recruited from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, a retrospective cohort study of long-term childhood cancer survivors treated at 31 institutions between 1970 and 1999 across North America. Participants were recruited and completed psychosocial measures via online survey between October 2018 and April 2019. Cancer and treatment-related variables were abstracted from medical records. Data were analyzed from May 2023 to July 2024.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Clinically significant fear of cancer recurrence was assessed via the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form. Poisson regression models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% CIs adjusted for age and sex to examine the associations of demographic, disease, treatment, and psychosocial variables with fear of cancer recurrence.

Results

The final sample included 229 adult survivors of childhood cancer (115 female [50.2%]; mean [SD] age, 39.6 [9.9] years; mean [SD] time since diagnosis, 31.7 [8.4] years). Among survivors, 38 (16.6%; 95% CI, 11.6%-21.6%) reported clinically significant fear of cancer recurrence, and an additional 36 (15.7%) reported high fear of cancer recurrence. Clinically significant fear of cancer recurrence was associated with unemployment (PR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-4.8), presence of neurologic chronic health conditions (PR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.8-6.1), treatment with pelvic radiation (PR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.5-5.6), and amputation or limb sparing surgery (PR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2-4.9). Higher risk of clinically significant fear of cancer recurrence was also associated with having either elevated anxiety or depression (PR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.2-5.9), having both elevated (PR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.2-8.4), and perceived poor health status (PR, 3.0; 95% CI, 3.1-9.7).

Conclusions and Relevance

Decades following treatment, one-third of childhood cancer survivors in this study reported elevated fear their cancer will recur or a subsequent malignant neoplasm will develop. Findings suggest that fear of cancer recurrence should be routinely screened, and clinically significant symptoms intervened upon as a part of survivorship care.
Time to COVID-19 Vaccination by Language and Country of Origin
Authors: Nolan Margaret B. , Chrenka Ella , DeSilva Malini B.
Published: October 2024

Importance

Disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates by race and ethnicity are well documented. Less is known about primary language and COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Objective

To describe the time to COVID-19 primary series vaccination and booster doses by primary language and country of origin.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 6 months or older with at least 1 health encounter from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2023, at a single health care system serving patients across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Exposure

Primary language and country of origin documented in the electronic health record.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Three COVID-19 vaccine coverage outcomes were evaluated: (1) primary series (1 Ad26.COV.S vaccine or 2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines), (2) first-generation booster (primary series Ad26.COV.S vaccine plus 1 Ad26.COV.S or mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months after the second dose or primary series mRNA vaccine plus 1 mRNA vaccine at least 5 months after the second dose), and (3) bivalent booster. Vaccine coverage was described by patient characteristics. Associations of primary language, race and ethnicity, and other patient characteristics with COVID-19 vaccine uptake were evaluated using time-to-event analysis in multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models, and adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) with 95% CIs were reported.

Results

There were 1 001 235 patients included (53.7% female). Most patients reported English as a primary language (94.1%) and were born in the US (91.8%). Primary series coverage was 63.7%; first-generation booster coverage, 64.4%; and bivalent booster coverage, 39.5%. Coverage for all outcomes was lower among those with a non-English primary language compared with English as the primary language (56.9% vs 64.1% for primary series; 47.5% vs 65.3% for first-generation booster; 26.2% vs 40.3% for bivalent booster). Those with a non-English primary language had lower COVID-19 vaccine uptake for the primary series (AHR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.84-0.86), first-generation booster (AHR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.73-0.75), and bivalent booster (AHR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.64-0.67) compared with patients with English as their primary language. Non–US-born patients had higher primary series uptake compared with US-born patients (AHR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.18-1.20) but similar first-generation booster (AHR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99-1.02) and bivalent booster (AHR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.98-1.02) uptake.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this retrospective cohort study, patients with a non-English primary language had both lower coverage and delays in receiving COVID-19 vaccines compared with those with English as their primary language. Reporting on language may identify health disparities that can be addressed with language-specific interventions.
Detection and Signal Processing for Near‐Field Nanoscale Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Larson Jonathan M. , Bechtel Hans A. , Kostecki Robert
Published: October 2024

Researchers from a broad spectrum of scientific and engineering disciplines are increasingly using scattering‐type near‐field infrared spectroscopic techniques to characterize materials non‐destructively with nanoscale spatial resolution. However, a sub‐optimal understanding of a technique's implementation can complicate data interpretation and act as a barrier to entering the field. Here the key detection and processing steps involved in producing scattering‐type near‐field nanoscale Fourier transform infrared spectra (nano‐FTIR) are outlined. The self‐contained mathematical and experimental work derives and explains: i) how normalized complex‐valued nano‐FTIR spectra are generated, ii) why the real and imaginary components of spectra qualitatively relate to dispersion and absorption respectively, iii) a new and generally valid equation for spectra which can be used as a springboard for additional modeling of the scattering processes, and iv) an algebraic expression that can be used to extract an approximation to the sample's local extinction coefficient from nano‐FTIR. The algebraic model for weak oscillators is validated with nano‐FTIR and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectra on samples of polystyrene and Kapton and further provides a pedagogical pathway to cementing some of the technique's key qualitative attributes.
NiFe‐Based Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Oxygen Evolution: Challenges, Strategies, and Advances Toward Industrial‐Scale Deployment
Authors: Zhou Yansong , Wang Zhitong , Cui Minghui , Wu Haiyan , Liu Yanjing , Ou Qiongrong , Tian Xinlong , Zhang Shuyu
Published: October 2024

Developing high‐efficiency alkaline water splitting technology holds great promise in potentially revolutionizing the traditional petrochemical industry to a more sustainable hydrogen economy. Importantly, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) accompanied at the anode is considered as a critical bottleneck in terms of both complicated mechanism and sluggish kinetics, requiring rational design of OER electrocatalysts to elucidate the structure‐performance relationship and reduce the applied overpotential. As a benchmarked non‐precious metal candidate, NiFe‐based electrocatalysts have gained enormous attention due to low‐cost, earth‐abundance, and remarkable intrinsic OER activity, which are expected to be implemented in industrial alkaline water splitting. In this contribution, a comprehensive overview of NiFe‐based OER electrocatalysts is provided, starting with fundamental mechanisms, evaluation metrics, and synthetic protocols. Subsequently, basic principles with corresponding regulatory strategies are summarized following the sequence of substrate‐catalyst‐electrolyte design of efficient and robust NiFe‐based electrocatalysts toward industrial‐scale deployment. Perspectives on remaining challenges and instructive opportunities in this booming field are finally discussed.
Regulating Adsorption Activation of Reactants by Bi‐Cl Synergistic Sites for Promoting Photocatalytic NO Deep Oxidation
Authors: Zhang Wendong , Ma Yuerui , Song Chenxi , Wei Yaping , Chen Peng , Ai Wangxing , Wang Yi , Dong Xing'an , Dong Fan
Published: October 2024

Photocatalytic nitrogen oxides (NOx) oxidation highly depends on the adsorption activation mode of pollutant molecules and the efficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Previous research underscores the construction of reactive active site synergistic mechanisms for enhancing reactant adsorption and activation. Herein, Bi‐metal is introduced onto the halogen intercalation by synergistically utilizing the strong electronegativity of Cl atoms and oxygen vacancy sites to promote directional charge transfer, forming an electronically localized layer of Cl and unsaturation‐charged Bi sites, which can change the activation mode of reactants and promote ROS formation. The OVs‐Bi4TaO8Cl/Bi with Bi–Cl synergistic sites immobilized on ceramic foam exhibited nitric oxide (NO) conversion efficiency of 89.0% with great stability (82.1% after 200 min) and extremely lowed toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO2) conversion (0.1%). The OVs‐Bi4TaO8Cl/Bi can convert NO into nitrosyl anion (NO−) during the adsorption activation process, thus effectively oxidizing it into the nitrate (NO3−) with NO2 inhibition. This study provides new insights into the development of effective photocatalysts with synergistic active sites for air pollutant purification.
Stability Challenges in Industrialization of Perovskite Photovoltaics: From Atomic‐Scale View to Module Encapsulation
Authors: Chen Hongyu , Chu Liang , Yan Wensheng
Published: October 2024

Perovskite photovoltaics have attracted significant attention in both academia and industry, benefiting from the superiorities of high efficiency, low cost, and simplified fabrication process. Importantly, long‐term stability is essential for practical industrialization; however, the stability challenge remains a significant impediment. Notably, stability is an essential prerequisite for practical applications. Unfortunately, as the device area increases, even to the module level, the efficiency gradually diminishes, and the stability deteriorates. This review summarizes the advances in perovskite photovoltaic technology stability from comprehensive perspectives, including the atomic‐scale, grain boundary, film morphology, interface, charge transport layer, electrode, laser etching, and module encapsulation. First, the review highlights the ongoing importance of stability in the industrialization of perovskite photovoltaics. Then, the review presents the stability challenge and explores the relationship between efficiency and stability in large‐area photovoltaic modules, shedding light on the stability issue. Later, the review explains the stability issue in terms of structure, chemistry, interfaces, device design, operation, and external environment, and proposes stability strategies ranging from the atomic‐scale to module encapsulation. Finally, the review emphasizes various improvement strategies, particularly multilevel synergistic optimization, offering fundamental guidance for the industrialization of perovskite photovoltaics.
Balancing Electroactive Backbone and Oligo(Ethylene Oxy) Side‐Chain Content Improves Stability and Performance of Soluble PEDOT Copolymers in Organic Electrochemical Transistors
Authors: Bardagot Olivier , DiTullio Brandon T. , Jones Austin L. , Speregen Justin , Reynolds John R. , Banerji Natalie
Published: October 2024

The development of devices based on organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) relies on the rational design of high‐performing organic mixed ionic‐electronic conductors (OMIECs). Here, a series of solution‐processable copolymers composed of unsubstituted 2,2′‐bis‐(3,4‐ethylenedioxy)thiophene (biEDOT) and 3,4‐propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT) substituted with linear or branched oligo(ethylene oxy) (OE) side chains are reported. By varying the size of the linear and branched side chains, it is found that the highest OECT performance is achieved with a near equivalent molar mass of the side chain and electroactive conjugated polymer repeat unit. With four OE units (PE2‐OE4, electroactive content of 49%), OECTs with state‐of‐the‐art normalized transconductance (453 ± 70 S cm−1) and µC* (830 ± 37 F cm−1 V−1 s−1), rapid dedoping kinetics, and a pulsing stability of 99% IDS retention over 200 ON/OFF cycles are achieved. A consistent improvement in OECT stability with decreasing side‐chain size is also observed. The origin of the enhanced stability is rationalized by correlating IDS losses to changes in channel absorbance cycle after cycle during operation. This work encourages the calculation of the electroactive polymer content of an OMIEC when designing the side chains. It also shows that the PE2 backbone with short OE side chains is a promising structure for (bio)electrochemical devices.
Unique Structures and Properties of Low‐Dimensional Metallic Materials Fabricated by Electron Beam Etching
Authors: Duan Huichao , Wang Xuelu , Zheng Tao , Song Yujie , Du Kui
Published: October 2024

Low‐dimensional nanometals have significant applications in sensors, catalysis, data storage and batteries, attributed to their unique mechanical, optical, magnetic, and electrical properties. Exploring and tailoring the properties of low‐dimensional nanometals have become a research field in nanoscience and technology. In addition to changing the characteristics of low‐dimensional nanometallics, such as size, shape and composition, designing and refining their structures to explore and optimize the properties of low‐dimensional nanometallics are also a top scientific priority. This review examines advancements in the unique structure, behavior, and properties of low‐dimensional nanometallics fabricated via electron beam etching. Innovative structures such as hexa‐coordinate monolayer Au membranes and simple hexagonal gold have been fabricated in low‐dimensional nanogold. These structures demonstrate phase transitions to heptagonal clusters, nano‐spiral tubes and other unique behaviors. Further, they exhibit distinctive physical properties, including magnetic and conductivity. Also, changes in nanometals' interfacial structural features induce size effects and unique mechanical and catalytic properties. Such design and fabrication of low‐dimensional nanometallics with novel structures and properties show great promise for their application to electronic devices, chips, and batteries.
Linker Modulation of Covalent Organic Frameworks at Atomic Level for Enhanced and Selective Photocatalytic Oxidation of Thioether
Authors: Huang Tianhang , Kou Jinfang , Yuan Hua , Guo Hongyan , Yuan Kun , Li Hu , Wang Fushan , Dong Zhengping
Published: October 2024

Atomic‐level modulation of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) structure for enhanced photocatalytic oxidation is highly important but still challenging. Herein, a series of β‐ketoenamine‐linked COFs have been synthesized by using 2,4,6‐triformyl‐phloroglucinol (Tp) as a modular molecule, 5,5′‐Diamino‐2,2′‐bipyridine (Bpy), and 3,6‐Pyridazinediamine (Dz) linkers with atomic level N sites substitute 4,4′‐diamino‐bipheny (BD) and 1,4‐phenylenediamine (Pa) to construct COFs with adjustable photocatalytic performance. Mechanism study reveals that in COFs with N sites‐based linkers, 1O2 adsorbed on the pore walls of TpBpy‐COF (−4.23 kcal mol−1) and TpDz‐COF (−4.63 kcal mol−1) with higher adsorption energy than on TpBD‐COF (−2.73 kcal mol−1) and TpPa‐COF (−2.17 kcal mol−1), enabling 1O2 activation and high catalytic performance toward thioether oxidation with almost >99% conversion, outperforming most reported organic photocatalysts. Notably, TpBpy‐COF exhibits a superior catalytic activity for thioether oxidation (e.g., aromatic thioethers, aliphatic sulfide, and Mustard Gas sulfide) because of its narrow bandgap, fast charge separation and transfer ability, and single‐ended activation ability. This study provides a novel and effective strategy for modulating exciton effects and photocatalytic activity of COFs‐based organic photocatalysts at the atomic level.
A Low‐Cost 3D Spirobifluorene‐Based Acceptor for High‐Performance Ternary Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Liu Chunyan , Qiu Nailiang , Liu Haonan , Kan Yuanyuan , Sun Yanna , Gao Ke , Li Chenxi , Lu Yan
Published: October 2024

The advantages of 3D materials as guest components of ternary organic solar cells (TOSCs) are being realized, showing great potential in improving device performance. However, the correlation between their distinctive 3D structure and device performance remains largely unexplored. Herein, a 3D acceptor named SF‐HR is cost‐effectively synthesized utilizing a twisted spirofluorene core. SF‐HR shows an edge‐on oriented packing but not the disordered aggregation as other 3D molecules. When introduced into D18:Y6 binary system, SF‐HR can induce more predominant face‐on packing and finer domain size in ternary blend, which facilitates exciton dissociation and multi‐direction charge transport. Besides, SF‐HR exhibits complementary absorption and cascaded energy levels with D18 and Y6, contributing to the improvement of short‐circuit current density (Jsc) and open‐circuit voltage (Voc), respectively. Accordingly, the optimized ternary device achieves higher Voc of 0.893 V, Jsc of 27.13 mA cm−2, and fill factor (FF) of 77.8%, respectively, than that of the host binary device, yielding an excellent efficiency of 18.85%. This success demonstrates that the utilization of a crystalline 3D material as a guest component represents a promising strategy for achieving state‐of‐the‐art OSCs, which is conducive to understanding the relationship between 3D guest structure and device performance from a new perspective.
A Multifunctional Nanodrug Increases the Therapeutic Sensitivity of Lenvatinib to Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inhibiting the Stemness of Hepatic Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Yang Xieqing , Zhang Qiaoyun , Li Dongye , Hu Lanxin , Wang Yu , Yan Xinyu , Li Yunhua , Wang Yong , Zhang Fang , Shen Jun
Published: October 2024

Drug resistance resulting from diverse mechanisms including the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is the main obstacle for improving therapeutic efficacy of lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, a nanomedicine (siCD24‐Len‐MnO@PLAP) is developed by incorporating manganese oxide (MnO), lenvatinib (Len), and siRNA against CD24 (siCD24) into micelles composed of methoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG), poly‐L‐lysine (PLLys), and polyasparagyl(N‐(2‐Aminoethyl)piperidine) (PAsp(PIP)) triblock copolymer. The nanomedicine can respond to the tumor microenvironment (TME) to release lenvatinib, and produce Mn2+ and O2, accompanied by changes in nanoparticle charge, which facilitates cellular endocytosis of siCD24‐loaded nanoparticles. The released siCD24 and lenvatinib synergistically reduces CD24 expression, resulting in a more pronounced inhibition of stemness of CSCs. In the mouse models of HCC using Huh7‐derived CSCs and Hepa1‐6‐derived CSCs, the nanomedicine shows remarkable anti‐cancer effect by enhancing the therapeutic effects of lenvatinib against HCC via reducing the expression level of CD24 and decreasing the expression of hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α). Moreover, in situ production of paramagnetic Mn2+ from the nanomedicine serves as an excellent contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor the therapeutic process. This study demonstrates that this multifunctional MRI‐visible siCD24‐ and lenvatinib‐loaded nanodrug holds great potential in enhancing therapeutic sensitivity for HCC lenvatinib therapy.
Interfacial Stress Transfer and Fracture in van der Waals Heterostructures
Authors: Li Zheling , Liu Mufeng , Kumar Pankaj , Chang Zhenghua , Qi Guocheng , He Pei , Wei Yujie , Young Robert J. , Novoselov Kostya S.
Published: October 2024

Artificially stacking 2D materials (2DMs) into vdW heterostructures creates materials with properties not present in nature that offer great potential for various applications such as flexible electronics. Properties of such stacked structures are controlled largely by the interfacial interactions and the structural integrity of the 2DMs. In spite of their crucial roles, interfacial stress transfer and the failure mechanisms of the vdW heterostructures, particularly during deformation, have not been well addressed so far. In this work, the interfacial stress transfer and failure mechanisms of a MoS2/graphene vdW heterostructure are studied, through the strain distributions both laterally in individual 2DMs and vertically across different 2DMs revealed in‐situ. The fracture of the MoS2 and the associated states of stress and strain are monitored experimentally. This enables various interfacial properties, such as the interfacial shear strength and interfacial fracture energy, to be estimated. Based only on the measured strength and interfacial properties of a single vdW heterostructure, a failure criterion is proposed to predict the failure mechanisms of similar vdW heterostructures with any lateral dimensions. This work provides an insight to the deformation micromechanics of vdW heterostructures that are of great value for their miniaturization and applications, especially in flexible electronics.
Phase–Change Liquid Encapsulated Quantum Dot Color Conversion Film for Wide Color Gamut LCDs
Authors: Liu Ronghuan , Xu Bing , Liu Pai , Luo Guiwen , Wang Kai , Sun Xiao Wei
Published: October 2024

Quantum dot (QD) color conversion films encapsulated with high barrier films are being applied to wide color gamut liquid crystal displays (LCDs). However, besides the expensive cost of barrier films, the aging of QD films under high temperature and high‐intensity blue light remains unresolved. Here, a QD color conversion film is developed using phase‐change liquid encapsulation suitable for roll‐to‐roll film fabrication. In this method, the QDs are encapsulated in the phase‐change material octadecane, which switches between solid and liquid states in response to temperature changes corresponding to standby and operation of the display, respectively. This process endows the self‐healing of QD ligands (liquid state) and effectively increases the lifespan of QDs under ultraviolet (UV) light. This novel phase‐change liquid encapsulation method significantly improves the UV light resistance and long‐term stability of QD color conversion films compared to conventional solid‐state encapsulation. Under conditions of 60 °C, 90% humidity, and 40 mW cm−2 blue LED backlighting, the phase‐change liquid encapsulated QD color conversion film maintains less than 10% brightness degradation for 680 h. This phase‐change liquid encapsulation technology opens new possibilities for manufacturing more durable QD color conversion films.
Photonic Whitener Pigments: A Sustainable Alternative to Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Safari Maryam , Wang Qimeng , Schreur‐Piet Ingeborg , de Vries Renko , Kodger Thomas Edward
Published: October 2024

Titanium dioxide is the world's most widely used pigment; however, increased cost and potential environmental concerns have driven a need for a sustainable replacement. The study has developed a scalable method to produce more sustainable photonic whiteners with application in paint and other dispersion formulations. Bio‐resourced zein protein nanoparticles are synthesized and used as sacrificial templates within a silica matrix. These micron‐sized photonic whiteners exhibit morphologically dependent whitening capabilities when incorporated into paint films. When the silica content is insufficient, an open structure forms, while an excess of silica content results in fewer interfaces and reduced scattering efficiency, leading to suboptimal whitening performance. An ideal ratio of silica to zein nanoparticles ensures optimal whitening properties comparable to commercially available whitener alternatives to titanium dioxide. Further analysis reveals a non‐uniform internal morphology of the photonic whiteners, with a silica‐void network dispersed within a solid silica matrix. This morphology provides an innovative criterion for optimizing the whitening performance of photonic structures beyond composition.
The T‐Type Calcium Channel CACNA1H is Required for Smooth Muscle Cytoskeletal Organization During Tracheal Tubulogenesis
Authors: Liu Ziying , Lu Chunyan , Ma Li , Li Changjiang , Luo Haiyun , Liu Yiqi , Liu Xinyuan , Li Haiqing , Cui Yachao , Zeng Jiahang , Bottasso‐Arias Natalia , Sinner Debora , Li Le , Wang Jian , Stainier Didier Y. R. , Yin Wenguang
Published: October 2024

Abnormalities of tracheal smooth muscle (SM) formation are associated with several clinical disorders including tracheal stenosis and tracheomalacia. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying tracheal SM formation remain poorly understood. Here, it is shown that the T‐type calcium channel CACNA1H is a novel regulator of tracheal SM formation and contraction. Cacna1h in an ethylnitrosourea forward genetic screen for regulators of respiratory disease using the mouse as a model is identified. Cacna1h mutants exhibit tracheal stenosis, disorganized SM and compromised tracheal contraction. CACNA1H is essential to maintain actin polymerization, which is required for tracheal SM organization and tube formation. This process appears to be partially mediated through activation of the actin regulator RhoA, as pharmacological increase of RhoA activity ameliorates the Cacna1h‐mutant trachea phenotypes. Analysis of human tracheal tissues indicates that a decrease in CACNA1H protein levels is associated with congenital tracheostenosis. These results provide insight into the role for the T‐type calcium channel in cytoskeletal organization and SM formation during tracheal tube formation and suggest novel targets for congenital tracheostenosis intervention.
Support Vector Machine for Prediction of the Electronic Factors of a Schottky Configuration Interlaid with Pure PVC and Doped by Sm2O3 Nanoparticles
Authors: Azizian‐Kalandaragh Yashar , Barkhordari Ali , Badali Yosef
Published: October 2024

This work uses the Support Vector Machine (SVM) to predict the main electronic variables of metal‐semiconductor (MS) and metal‐nanocomposite‐semiconductor (MPS) configurations, i.e., leak current (I0), the height of the potential barrier (ΦB0), ideality coefficient (n), series/shunt resistances (Rs/Rsh), rectification ratio (RR), and surface/interface states density (Nss), along with current conduction/transport mechanisms occurred into them at the reverse/forward biases by analyzing the I–V measurements. The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and samarium oxide (Sm2O3) nanoparticles are combined to form the two interfacial layers. To analyze the I–V characteristics and train the SVM, the thermionic emission theorem is used. By contrasting the predicted and experimental results, the predictive ability of the SVM approach for predicting the electronic specifications of the fabricated structures and their current conduction/transport processes has been evaluated to investigate the effectiveness of the SVM. There is strong agreement between the experimental data and the SVM predictions of the fundamental electronic characterizations of the MS and MPS structures and the current conduction processes in them at the forward/reverse biases. Additionally, the results demonstrate that the RR value of the MS configuration increases 4 and 53 times if the pure PVC and PVC:Sm2O3 composite interlayers are employed.
A critical review of the factors influencing pre‐harvest sprouting of wheat
Authors: Hull S. I. , Swanepoel P. A. , Botes W. C.
Published: October 2024

Pre‐harvest sprouting (PHS) is a global issue affecting a multitude of crops, including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The combination of conducive conditions and a lack of genetic seed dormancy results in the sprouting of intact grain at or prior to harvesting. The initiation of germination synthesizes gibberellic acid resulting in the activation of the alpha‐amylase synthesis via a calcium‐dependent signal transduction pathway. Alpha‐amylase synthesized via this pathway degrades the endosperm, decreasing bread‐making quality. A commonly used indicator for bread‐making quality is the Hagberg Falling Number. Environmental, phenotypic, genetic, and management factors influence the susceptibility of wheat to PHS. Rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity are commonly associated with PHS. The combination of these conditions results in the greatest severity of PHS. Morphological features such as awns and epicuticular waxes may increase the quantity of rainfall retained against the grain, increasing the risk of PHS. Similarly, management factors such as fertilization and fungicide application also may increase the risk of PHS occurring. Further research is necessary to understand the mechanisms and impact of management factors on PHS. Additionally, further investigations are needed to explore how environmental and genotypic interactions affect PHS susceptibility.
Potassium supply for improvement of cereals growth under drought: A review
Authors: Damalas Christos A. , Koutroubas Spyridon D.
Published: October 2024

Potassium (K) is an essential macronutrient that determines crop productivity and promotes crop growth under conditions of abiotic stress. In this review paper, peer‐reviewed publications (experimental data) dealing with the role of K administration in the control of cereals growth under drought stress are reviewed and analyzed. Most published research on the impact of K administration on cereals growth under drought focuses primarily on bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.), along with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). The beneficial effect of K on cereals growth under drought has been related to maintenance of water balance in the crops, increased activity of the antioxidant enzymes, increased synthesis of osmolytes, contribution to a low sodium (Na)/K ratio, extension of the grain filling period, and increase of the grain growth rate and weight. Moreover, K was suggested as a possible way for enhancing nitrogen use efficiency (e.g., bread wheat and sorghum). Nevertheless, the beneficial effect of foliar applied K in dried soil during grain filling differed among bread wheat cultivars, highlighting that the effect of K supply on grain weight may differ depending on application method, that is, administration through the soil or the foliage. Overall, K supply could be exploited as a tool for increasing cereal tolerance to drought, for example, by considering late administration of K through top dressing applications or foliar sprayings. Yet additional information is needed on the rate and the K form, along with the most suitable growth stage for application. Such information could help agronomists develop strategies for high‐quality cereal production in stressful environments.
Evidence That Long‐Term Treatment Prevents Tissue Oxidative Damage in Patients With Inherited Disorders of the Propionate Pathway
Authors: dos Reis Bianca Gomes , Becker Graziela Schmitt , Marchetti Desiree Padilha , Coelho Daniella de Moura , Sitta Angela , Wajner Moacir , Vargas Carmen Regla
Published: October 2024

Propionic and methylmalonic acidemias (PAcidemia and MMAcidemia, respectively) are genetic disorders clinically characterized by metabolic decompensation associated with life‐threatening encephalopathic episodes in the neonatal period. Adequate and rapid therapeutic management is essential for patients' survival and prognosis. In this study, a restricted protein diet associated with L‐carnitine (LC) supplementation was shown to decrease mortality and morbidity in patients affected by these disorders probably by decreasing the accumulation of the major metabolites and therefore their toxicity. Since oxidative stress was proposed as a contributing mechanism of tissue damage in PAcidemia and MMAcidemia and LC has potent antioxidant properties, our objective in this work was to investigate the effects of a long‐term therapy consisting of reduced protein intake associated with LC supplementation on oxidative damage markers in patients affected by these diseases. We measured urinary isoprostanes, di‐tyrosine, and oxidized guanine species, which reflect oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA/RNA, respectively, as well as the concentrations of NO products (nitrate plus nitrite) in patients untreated or submitted to short‐term or a long‐term treatment. Results revealed significant increases of isoprostanes, di‐tyrosine, and oxidized guanine species, as well as a moderate nonsignificant increase of NO levels in the untreated patients, relatively to controls. Furthermore, these altered markers were attenuated after short‐term treatment and normalized after prolonged treatment. In conclusion, data from this work show for the first time that long‐standing treatment of patients with disorders of the propionate pathway can protect against oxidative damage. However, it remains to be elucidated whether oxidative stress identified in this study directly correlates with the clinical conditions of the affected patients.
Quantum Verification for a Class of n$n$‐Qubit Quantum Entangled States
Authors: Ou Yangwei , Tan Xiaoqing , Bao Daipengwei , Xu Qingshan , Li Qin , Fei Shao‐Ming
Published: October 2024

The quantum verification is to determine whether a quantum device is intentionally deceptive by assessing the proximity between the actual output state and the expected state. As a crucial step toward the advancement of quantum technology, numerous quantum state verification methods have been proposed. However, there remains a scarcity of methods for verifying states with an arbitrary number of qubits. A verification strategy for the entangled states with is proposed. Specifically, an average map is introduced and demonstrated that it simplifies the matrix form of the verification strategy while maintaining the verification efficiency. By optimizing the verification strategies, the strategy with local projective measurements is obtained.
How games can support misinformation education: A sociocultural perspective
Authors: Wedlake Stacey , Coward Chris , Lee Jin Ha
Published: October 2024

This study uses a sociocultural perspective, which views literacy as embedded in people's daily practices and shaped by social contexts, to explore how a misinformation escape room can support learning about misinformation. While the sociocultural perspective has a rich theoretical foundation, it has rarely been used to examine, much less evaluate, information and media literacy interventions. In this paper, we posit that the topic of misinformation makes a strong case for using the sociocultural model and explore a misinformation escape room through this lens. We present findings of a nationwide study of an online misinformation escape room with post‐game debrief discussion conducted at 10 public libraries that hosted 53 game sessions involving 211 players. The mixed methods study finds the game and accompanying debrief supported players in reflecting upon social media platform infrastructures, the psychological and emotional dimensions of misinformation, and how their personal behaviors intersect with online misinformation. We discuss how the sociocultural perspective can enrich our understanding of the role played by certain attributes of the game—narrative, debrief, and collaboration—thereby providing insights for the design of media and information literacy interventions.
Regulation and signaling of the LIM domain kinases
Authors: Casanova‐Sepúlveda Gabriela , Boggon Titus J.
Published: October 2024

The LIM domain kinases (LIMKs) are important actin cytoskeleton regulators. These proteins, LIMK1 and LIMK2, are nodes downstream of Rho GTPases and are the key enzymes that phosphorylate cofilin/actin depolymerization factors to regulate filament severing. They therefore perform an essential role in cascades that control actin depolymerization. Signaling of the LIMKs is carefully regulated by numerous inter‐ and intra‐molecular mechanisms. In this review, we discuss recent findings that improve the understanding of LIM domain kinase regulation mechanisms. We also provide an up‐to‐date review of the role of the LIM domain kinases, their architectural features, how activity is impacted by other proteins, and the implications of these findings for human health and disease.