bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
History of Media Literacy
Authors: Yildiz Melda N.
Published: May 2019

Media literacy has been closely connected to the history of media inventions. From cave paintings to church murals, from hornbooks to tablet PCs, from codices to info graphs, from oral traditions to digital storytelling, humans always strive to communicate their messages and educate the new generations through different types of medium. The invention of each medium (e.g., newspaper, radio, television, Internet) was always questioned, feared, and debated as well as welcomed to our classrooms around the world. Starting with the printing press in the 15th century, educators and students gained access to knowledge and benefited from the mass media. This entry outlines the role that media played in education across cultures throughout history.
Participation through Public Media: Improving Media Literacy among Vulnerable Youth
Authors: Kotilainen Sirkku , Pienimäki Mari
Published: May 2019

“Digital differentiation” in the quality of online activities is of concern to researchers studying youth and media. It is argued that, as a component of media literacy, media participation can potentially mitigate such emerging differentiation. To demonstrate how participation through public media can improve both media literacy and agency, especially among vulnerable young people with cognitive or social difficulties or in a difficult life situation, two perspectives are advanced: (i)
media production as self‐expression
can raise interest in participation by generating positive experiences of competency and operational knowledge of media literacy; (ii)
participation through public media
(e.g., publishing one's own media content) can empower vulnerable youth to express their opinions as citizens, improving media literacies through discussion and observation of the professional practices of media organizations.
Learning from Media
Authors: Kirkorian Heather L.
Published: May 2019

This entry provides an overview of learning from media using a developmental perspective. By at least 3 years of age, children can learn from educational media, with demonstrated knowledge gains across a variety of domains. In fact, the amount of educational television that children watch during the preschool years predicts their later school readiness and academic achievement. Most of the research with children is limited to investigations of television; however, there is a growing body of literature on learning from interactive media such as video games, demonstrating that games can teach specific knowledge and allow players to hone more general cognitive abilities. While children younger than 3 years old may learn less than older children and adults from media, some toddlers can learn from screen media under certain conditions. Areas for future research include identifying particular media features, individual characteristics, and social contexts that support learning from media.
Media Arts
Authors: Thevenin Benjamin
Published: May 2019

Media arts is an artistic and educational discipline that understands media principally as platforms for creative expression. Media arts draw upon traditions within the arts and humanities including visual arts, music, theater, literature, and so forth, making particular use of contemporary media. Areas within media arts may include film, animation, design, games, and other “new” media. Media arts emphasize creative expression and critical analysis of multiple media forms. Given that the discipline makes use of various media and draws upon a range of artistic traditions, media arts are not informed by a single, unified theoretical or esthetic tradition. Media arts are a significant tradition within media literacy, though their perspectives and pedagogies differ somewhat from those that dominate the field. Media arts education has been critiqued for its emphasis on technical competence and personal expression at the expense of social or political relevance. Though, media arts initiatives commonly make an effort to highlight the integration of theory, production, and politics. Recently, the media arts have been designated within educational policy as a fifth arts discipline. As new media technologies develop, media arts studies, education, and creative practice attempt to make sense of and make use of these emerging media.
Media Literacy and Visual Culture
Authors: Moeller Susan D.
Published: May 2019

What is considered to be visual culture changes in response to social and economic disruptions, technological shifts, alterations in networks of exchange, and upheavals in ways of thinking. Media literacy gives audiences the tools to evaluate the messages of as well as the tools to participate in visual culture—to imagine, create, construct, collect, curate, and commemorate their culture. Yet individuals do not control their culture. Individuals exercising freedom of expression may help shape visual culture, but their visual experience of the world is more thoroughly directed by the communities in which they live, corporate insights about what they as customers want, and the dictates of their governments. Visual culture is a crowded and contested space; there is a wide range of actors and institutions with an investment in controlling what and how the public sees. Every person has a right to access and participate in visually dense and rich culture(s), but media literacy trains audiences to recognize that not all can equally access that right. In theory, aesthetics are the signature element of visual culture; more often—as the tools of media literacy make evident—politics, economics, and technology are the central drivers of visual culture.
Media Literacy as Contemporary Rhetoric
Authors: Beach Richard
Published: May 2019

This entry describes the application of contemporary rhetorical theory to the analysis of using rhetorical practices to establish an identification with audiences through language and visual rhetoric associated with digital and media texts. It posits the need to engage students in critical rhetorical analysis of the use of various attempts to gain audience identification, as well as in civic engagement projects associated with convincing audiences of the need for change.
Media Literacy Education and Second Language Acquisition
Authors: He Haixia
Published: May 2019

Media literacy has been explored from various perspectives in the past decades; however, few have integrated English as a second language (ESL) or English as a foreign language (EFL). As a communication means, media technology provides an advantageous condition to create authentic environments for second language learners to acquire English. Activities inspired by media literacy can be designed to enhance students' critical thinking skills; they can also greatly facilitate their second language acquisition. This entry presents a case study examined by an ESL teacher who used key critical questions for analyzing ads in instructional activities designed to make students practice critical thinking while supporting their language learning. It also explores specific media literacy instructional practices for WeChat‐based activities in second language (L2) learning in China.
Media Literacy in Communication Education
Authors: Schmidt Hans C.
Published: May 2019

This entry provides an overview of the development of media literacy education and research within the discipline of communication and media studies. The backgrounds of both branches of the discipline are traced and several theoretical perspectives that frame media literacy within communication and media studies are addressed. Finally, this entry contains a brief discussion of the current state of media literacy scholarship within the discipline.
Medium Theory
Authors: Meyrowitz Joshua
Published: May 2019

Medium theory focuses on the ways in which media of communication differ from each other, apart from the “messages” they convey. Indeed, medium theory argues that the same or similar content in different media has different effects and that people tend to adapt the substance of their communications to match the characteristics of dominant media. Medium theory also explores the ways in which various forms of mediated communication compare and contrast with “unmediated” face‐to‐face interaction.
Messy Engagement
Authors: Moore David Cooper
Published: May 2019

Digital and media literacy practices necessarily entail disruptions, risks, and challenges to K‐12 teaching (i.e., US primary and secondary education), as emergent curricula, unpredictable media content, and complex products and assessments often follow the integration of digital and media literacy into traditional classrooms. This entry focuses on challenges to the smooth implementation of digital and media literacy frameworks and projects in a model referred to as “messy engagement.” It explores ways in which addressing such challenges creates needs for alternative forms of planning, institutional support, and the development of implementation norms and assessments.
Media Literacy in
N
ew
Z
ealand
Authors: Lealand Geoff
Published: May 2019

Media literacy, as it is conceived of in other places (North America, in particular) is largely an unfamiliar concept in New Zealand. This is because media studies as a coherently designed disciplinary field of teaching and research is well established in New Zealand secondary (high) schools, on a nationally mandated and formally assessed basis, as well as featuring as a subject area in most universities within degree structures.
Media Literacy in
S
ingapore
Authors: Loh Renae Sze Ming , Lim Sun Sun
Published: May 2019

Media literacy education in Singapore has a relationship of interdependence with the city‐state's economic priorities. Anticipating the general shift toward an information‐based society, the Singapore government has undertaken various initiatives to establish a robust information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and an ICT‐savvy citizenry. This discussion also situates media literacy education within the larger context of the highly duopolistic and regulated media industry and structured education system. The authors conclude with a discussion of media literacy education efforts both in the formal education system and in public education.
News Literacies
Authors: Ashley Seth
Published: May 2019

News literacies include the range of approaches to teaching and learning about how to analyze and evaluate news media content. Sometimes thought of as a subdomain of media literacy, the emerging field of news literacy includes the knowledge and skills necessary for empowered audiences to engage with news media and civic life in meaningful and productive ways. Premised on the idea that democratic self‐governance depends on an informed citizenry, news literacy includes a diversity of approaches ranging from information seeking and verification to critical analysis of news economics, production, and effects. Vital to life in the 21st century, news literacy aims to promote civic engagement and a knowledgeable citizenry.
Performance Media
Authors: Jensen Amy Petersen
Published: May 2019

This entry examines the impact of digital technologies on fine arts concepts, spaces, and bodies. Specifically, the entry identifies ways that these technologies have brought about a shift in arts making processes, as well as the dissemination and distribution of live performance. The entry provides some examples of the alterations that have occurred in dance, theater, visual arts, and music. It also briefly explores how the concept of “liveness” as defined by performance theorist Philip Auslander has been shaped by digital technologies.
Privacy and Surveillance, In and Out of School
Authors: De Abreu Belinha S.
Published: May 2019

This entry provides an overview of the issues and concerns related to privacy for individuals in and out of an educational context. The role of privacy in relation to technology is evolving and changing daily. Concerns researched and expressed by the individual consumer, the student user, the educator, and the school are reviewed along with the implications of legislation that has impacted the way in which privacy is perceived on a global scale. Further, the entry reviews how organizations and affiliations are working to deal with privacy through digital citizenship.
Remix Culture
Authors: Baron Robert J.
Published: May 2019

Remix culture refers to the cultural, intellectual, and legal shifts that enable, and often celebrate, the ability of individuals to appropriate, adapt, rearrange, and repurpose elements from the larger mass media to create new media texts. Remix culture puts greater emphasis on the power and agency of media consumers to act as media creators, making new and different cultural texts by sampling from, combining, and “remixing” the existing cultural texts that surround them. As such, remix culture reframes the relationship between media creations and consumers and the act of media consumption. Remix culture also offers a drastic challenge to the legal concept of copyright and the ways in which the value of owning intellectual property is calculated. Remix culture embraces empowered media consumption. This entry explains the concept of a media remix, examines how remix culture drastically reshapes our understanding of how individuals interact with the mass media, and explores the ways in which remix culture challenges existing ideas about copyright and intellectual property.
Representation of Children and Youths in Media
Authors: Ciboci Lana
Published: May 2019

The representation of children and youths in media influences the children themselves and their view of their own role in society. It also has a huge impact on adults and their opinions about children. Therefore, the way children are represented in the media is highly important. Research shows that children are underrepresented in the news media. Media professionals most often report on children in a negative context. Namely, children are most often shown as victims or perpetrators of violent and criminal acts.
Representation of Media and Technology in Young Adult Literature
Authors: Rish Ryan M.
Published: May 2019

Young adult literature as a literary genre is broadly defined as fiction featuring young adult characters with whom young adult readers can relate. As the genre of young adult literature has evolved and more titles have been published and marketed toward young adult readers, media and technology have been variously represented as elements in the lives of characters, means through which characters address problems, and focal factors of the problem presented to characters. Particular representations of media and technology in realistic, dystopic, and science fiction examples of young adult literature include, but are not limited to, digital communication, social media, and surveillance technology. These examples are often not representative of diverse young adult readers and their life experiences.
Representation of Race
Authors: Cubbage Jayne
Published: May 2019

The discussion of race and media literacy is an area that has not yet been explored fully. Much of the media literacy movement works to increase levels of awareness regarding producer intent along with audience participation and responsiveness to those messages. Other emphases have included the implementation of media literacy in secondary education and advocacy for greater consumer awareness. The discussion of race has been covered within the context of other overarching themes in media literacy such as news, advertising, diversity, and representation. There are several factors beyond simple oversight that have led to the absence of concerted discussion on race in the media literacy movement including: discomfort with societal imbalances, the false notion of “post‐racial,” the presumption of a homogenized media audience, and the lack of awareness of the differences in media consumption habits among racial groups.
Representations of Risky Behaviors
Authors: McDermott Kimberly Walsh , Sekarasih Laras
Published: May 2019

This entry provides a review of how the mass media depict risky behaviors such as violence, sexual activity, substance use, and reckless driving. A summary of effects research focused on the potential negative outcomes of exposure to these media depictions—particularly among young audiences—is provided for each major category of risk behavior. The entry concludes with an overview of evaluative research on media literacy interventions designed to mitigate or eliminate these negative effects.
Media Literacy Education and 21st Century Teacher Education
Authors: Yeh Ellen , Wan Guofang
Published: May 2019

To prepare students to fully participate in contemporary media culture, media literacy should be incorporated into the formal education, especially in K‐12 (i.e., US primary and secondary education) and teacher preparation programs. This entry discusses ways in which media literacy education (MLE) in teacher preparation programs provides educators with a deeper understanding of media literacy, critical media literacy, culturally relevant curricula, and integrated approaches that promote media literacy in standards‐based instruction. MLE models and pedagogical instructions that could in principle narrow the gap between digital divides, bridge diverse cultural groups, motivate learners to make connections across various disciplines, and offer more equitable opportunities in multimedia environments were introduced.
Video Composition in Secondary School
Authors: Bruce David L.
Published: May 2019

This entry provides an overview of research on adolescents' use of digital video (DV) as a compositional tool. DV is situated within the multidisciplinary fields of media literacy, new literacies, multimodal literacies, semiotics, and compositional studies. This powerful literacy tool allows students to compose multimodal expressions of meaningful learning. This entry articulates a model of video composition that details the complex and recursive processes that allow for the sequential multimodal representation of thoughts and ideas. When students use DV as a compositional tool, there are multiple available affordances in the design considerations. Research indicates that, when DV is used with adolescents in school and out of school contexts, they demonstrate engaged learning, identity exploration, mobile and embodied learning, and collaborative, mediated, and reflective learning.
Alternative Media
Authors: Mugar Gabriel
Published: May 2019

Alternative media holds space for narratives, ideas, and people that are excluded from mass media ecosystems. The response to this exclusion is described here as a relationship to three distinct modalities of media ecosystems: infrastructure, perspective, and agency. Each of these modalities is described as it appears in a mass media ecosystem and its counterpart in an alternative media setting.
Ordered Mesoporous Metastable α‐MoC1−x with Enhanced Water Dissociation Capability for Boosting Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Activity
Authors: Baek Du San , Jung Gwan Yeong , Seo Bora , Kim Jin Chul , Lee Hyun‐Wook , Shin Tae Joo , Jeong Hu Young , Kwak Sang Kyu , Joo Sang Hoon
Published: May 2019

The sluggish reaction kinetics of the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) remains an important challenge for water–alkali electrolyzers, which originates predominantly from the additional water dissociation step required for the alkaline HER. In this work, it is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally that metastable, face‐centered‐cubic α‐MoC1−x phase shows superior water dissociation capability and alkaline HER activity than stable, hexagonal‐close‐packed Mo2C phase. Next, high surface area ordered mesoporous α‐MoC1−x (MMC) is designed via a nanocasting method. In MMC structure, the α‐MoC1−x phase facilitates the water dissociation reaction, while the mesoporous structure with high surface area enables a high dispersion of metal NPs and efficient mass transport. As a result, Pt nanoparticles (NPs) supported on MMC (Pt/MMC) show substantially enhanced alkaline HER activity in terms of overpotentials, Tafel slopes, mass and specific activities, and exchange current densities, compared to commercial Pt/C and Pt NPs supported on particulate α‐MoC1−x or β‐Mo2C. Notably, Pt/MMC shows very low Tafel slope of 30 mV dec–1, which is the lowest value among the reported Pt‐based alkaline HER catalysts, suggesting the critical role of MMC in enhancing the HER kinetics. The promotional effect of MMC support in the alkaline HER is further demonstrated with an Ir/MMC catalyst.
Full Spectrum Tunable Visible‐Light‐Driven Alloy Nanomotor
Authors: Zheng Jing , Wang Jizhuang , Xiong Ze , Wan Zhihan , Zhan Xiaojun , Yang Siyuan , Chen Jiawei , Dai Jia , Tang Jinyao
Published: May 2019

Micro/nanomotors (MNMs) are emerging machinery by virtue of their tempting applications in noninvasive microsurgery, environmental remediation, and advanced nanomanufacturing. Notably, the light‐powered MNMs generate propulsion thrust by absorbing photons and potentially respond differently to different energy photons, which enable their feasibility of remote signaling, independent addressing, and multi‐channel controllability. In this study, an inorganic nanomotor based on solution‐processed cation exchanged core–shell alloy nanowire is demonstrated with continuous tunability in the visible spectrum. The spectrum response of nanomotor can be selectively tailored through nanomotor composition, which provides a simple platform for future multi‐channel navigated MNMs system and moves a step toward massive production of MNMs with advanced functionalities.
3D Graphene‐Based Macrostructures for Water Treatment
Authors: Wang Haitao , Mi Xueyue , Li Yi , Zhan Sihui
Published: May 2019

Recently, 3D graphene‐based macrostructures (3D GBMs) have gained increased attention due to their immense application potential in water treatment. The unique structural features (e.g., large surface area and physically interconnected porous network) as well as fascinating properties (e.g., high electrical conductivity, excellent chemical/thermal stability, ultralightness, and high solar‐to‐thermal conversion efficiency) render 3D GBMs as promising materials for water purification through adsorption, capacitive deionization, and solar distillation. Moreover, 3D GBMs can serve as scaffolds to immobilize powder nanomaterials to build monolithic adsorbents and photo‐/electrocatalysts, which significantly broadens their potential applications in water treatment. Here, recent advances in their synthesis and application toward water purification are highlighted. Remaining challenges and future perspectives are elaborated to highlight future research directions.
Graphene's Latest Cousin: Plumbene Epitaxial Growth on a “Nano WaterCube”
Authors: Yuhara Junji , He Bangjie , Matsunami Noriaki , Nakatake Masashi , Le Lay Guy
Published: May 2019

While theoretical studies predicted the stability and exotic properties of plumbene, the last group‐14 cousin of graphene, its realization has remained a challenging quest. Here, it is shown with compelling evidence that plumbene is epitaxially grown by segregation on a Pd1−xPbx(111) alloy surface. In scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), it exhibits a unique surface morphology resembling the famous Weaire–Phelan bubble structure of the Olympic “WaterCube” in Beijing. The “soap bubbles” of this “Nano WaterCube” are adjustable with their average sizes (in‐between 15 and 80 nm) related to the Pb concentration (x < 0.2) dependence of the lattice parameter of the Pd1−xPbx(111) alloy surface. Angle‐resolved core‐level measurements demonstrate that a lead sheet overlays the Pd1−xPbx(111) alloy. Atomic‐scale STM images of this Pb sheet show a planar honeycomb structure with a unit cell ranging from 0.48 to 0.49 nm corresponding to that of the standalone 2D topological insulator plumbene.
Recent Trends, Benchmarking, and Challenges of Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 by Molecular Catalysts
Authors: Elouarzaki Kamal , Kannan Vishvak , Jose Vishal , Sabharwal Harshjyot Singh , Lee Jong‐Min
Published: May 2019

CO2 reduction using molecular catalysts is a key area of study for achieving electrical‐to‐chemical energy storage and feedstock chemical synthesis. Compared to classical metallic solid‐state catalysts, these molecular catalysts often result in high performance and selectivity, even under unfavorable aqueous environments. This review considers the recent state‐of‐the‐art molecular catalysts for CO2 electroreduction and explains the observed performance, therefore guiding the design principles for the next generation of molecules and material/molecule hybrid electrodes. The most recent advances related to these issues are discussed.
Solution‐Phase Synthesis of Few‐Layer Hexagonal Antimonene Nanosheets via Anisotropic Growth
Authors: Peng Lucheng , Ye Shuai , Song Jun , Qu Junle
Published: May 2019

Antimonene, an emerging two‐dimensional material, has garnered tremendous interest due to its intriguing structure and fascinating electronic properties. However, the synthesis of high‐quality few‐layer antimonene nanosheets, which can only be produced by exfoliation or epitaxial growth on exotic substrates, has greatly hindered the development of this new field. Herein, few‐layer hexagonal and functionalized antimonene nanosheets were successfully prepared from SbCl3 solutions for the first time by exclusively promoting their anisotropic growth in a colloidal solution. Oleylamine was selected as the reducing agent, rather than oleic acid, and dodecylthiol was key to preventing the formation of antimony oxide. Additionally, halide ions adsorbed on the surface also influenced the anisotropic growth of hexagonal antimonene nanosheets. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the sheets were ≈5 nm thick; Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) revealed a rhombohedral atomic structure (β‐Sb) with excellent stability.
Contractive Annulation: A Strategy for the Synthesis of Small, Strained Cyclophanes and Its Application in the Synthesis of [2](6,1)Naphthaleno[1]paracyclophane
Authors: Biswas Sourav , Qiu Christopher S. , Dawe Louise N. , Zhao Yuming , Bodwell Graham J.
Published: May 2019

A new synthetic strategy (contractive annulation) for the synthesis of highly strained cyclophanes has been conceived and its viability has been demonstrated through a nine‐step synthesis of [2](6,1)naphthaleno[1]paracyclophane from [2.2]paracyclophane.
In situ fabrication of CuO/UHMWPE nanocomposites and their tribological performance
Authors: Cao Zhen , Shi Guojun , Yan Xiaotian , Wang Qiuyi
Published: May 2019

Polymer nanocomposites present remarkably enhanced mechanical and tribological properties with respect to their matrices even at a low loading of nanofillers. Here, cupric oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (nano‐CuO) were in situ filled into ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) to inhibit a possible agglomeration encountered in the preparation by mechanical mixing. The filled CuO nanoparticles were highly dispersed in UHMWPE with a reliable interface combination. The CuO nanoparticles in the matrix play a role for heterogeneous nucleation, resulting in an enhancement in degree of crystallinity of UHMWPE. The elastic modulus and the elongation at break of the nanocomposites also presented an improvement, indicating a good compatibility between the nano‐CuO and the matrix. The average sliding friction coefficient of UHMWPE against 45# steel was reduced by up to 34% after the in situ filling of CuO nanoparticles, and the wear mechanism was found to transform from adhesive to fatigue wear after the introduction of nano‐CuO. It is concluded that the in situ filling can improve the dispersion of CuO nanoparticles in UHMWPE, and markedly promote the mechanical properties and tribological performance of UHMWPE. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47925.
Synthesis and properties of polydimethylsiloxane/graphene oxide modified, water‐based polyurethane/polyacrylate
Authors: Yang Jing , Li Jing , Muhammad Yaseen , Yin Yuhua , Meng Fei , Wei Yunhao , Yang Hongquan
Published: May 2019

In this study, we prepared polydimethylsiloxane–graphene oxide (PG) modified waterborne polyurethane acrylate (WPUA) films and enhanced their hydrophobicity, thermal stability, and mechanical properties. The prepared films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and energy spectroscopy analysis; this confirmed the successful incorporation of PG into WPUA. As shown by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy analysis, the surfaces of the WPUA films were confirmed to have turned smoother and more compact after PG addition. With an optimized amount of PG (0.1%) incorporated into the WPUA film, it exhibited a contact angle improvement of 21.9°, an enhanced decomposition temperature at 5% weight losses of 25 °C, and an elongation at break improvement of 482.92% over those of pure WPUA. The newly synthesized PG–WPUA showed considerable enhancements in its hydrophobicity and thermal and mechanical properties and could be deemed to have potential value as an alternative contender for practical applications in coatings painted on tunnels and highways. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47926.
Crystallization of triethyl‐citrate‐plasticized poly(lactic acid) induced by chitin nanocrystals
Authors: Singh Shikha , Maspoch Maria Lluisa , Oksman Kristiina
Published: May 2019

The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the crystallization behavior of triethyl‐citrate‐plasticized poly(lactic acid) (PLA–TEC) in the presence of chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs). The isothermal crystallization behavior of PLA–TEC was studied by polarized optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Interestingly, the addition of just 1 wt % ChNCs in PLA–TEC increased the crystallization rate in the temperature range of 135–125 °C. The microscopy studies confirmed the presence of at least three distinct types of spherulites: negative, neutral, and ring banded. The ChNCs also increased the degree of crystallinity up to 32%, even at a fast cooling rate of 25 °C min−1. The XRD studies further revealed the nucleation effect induced by the addition of ChNCs and thus explained the faster crystallization rate. To conclude, the addition of a small amount (1 wt %) of ChNC to plasticized PLA significantly affected its nucleation, crystal size, and crystallization speed; therefore, the proposed route can be considered suitable for improving the crystallization behavior of PLA. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47936.
Isolation and identification of EST‐SSR markers in Ixonanthes chinensis (Ixonanthaceae)
Authors: Guo Wei , Fan Qiang , Wang Jinjiang , Meng Kaikai , Chen Sufang , Zhu Liping , Liao Wenbo
Published: May 2019

Premise

Ixonanthes (Ixonanthaceae) consists of between three and 19 species, among which I. chinensis and I. khasiana are considered vulnerable. Here, 58 microsatellite markers were developed for further conservation of these two Ixonanthes species.

Methods and Results

RNA transcripts of I. chinensis were sequenced and assembled into 19,545 unigenes, and 994 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were identified from 920 contigs. Based on these, 106 primer pairs were designed, 58 were successfully amplified, and 12 demonstrated polymorphism among five populations. The number of alleles per locus varied from three to 10, and the levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 1.000 and 0.000 to 0.844, respectively. Further assessment of the transferability of the 58 amplifiable primers reported 30 being successfully cross‐amplified in I. icosandra and three in Erythroxylum sinense.

Conclusions

These novel SSR markers will be useful for future genetic conservation studies on these Ixonanthes species.
Country‐wide analysis of large wood as a driver of fish abundance in Swedish streams: Which species benefit and where?
Authors: Donadi Serena , Sandin Leonard , Tamario Carl , Degerman Erik
Published: May 2019

Rivers are heavily affected by human impacts that threaten many fish species. Among restoration measures, the addition of large wood (LW) in streams has been shown to increase fish abundance, yet which species benefit from LW, to what extent relative to other drivers, and which factors influence LW quantity is not clear, and these uncertainties limit our ability to use LW as an effective restoration measure.

Here, a time series (from 1993 to 2016) of electrofishing data, including 3641 streams across Sweden, was used to investigate the beneficial effects of LW on the abundance of juvenile brown trout, Salmo trutta, juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, and juvenile and adult sculpins, Cottus gobio and Cottus poecilopus, while accounting for other abiotic and biotic factors, and the drivers of LW abundance at a country‐wide scale.

Large wood benefitted brown trout, and the effects were greater with decreasing shaded stream surface. LW effects were comparable in magnitude to the positive effects of average annual air temperature and the negative effects of stream depth and predator abundance – factors where the influence was second only to the negative effects of stream width. LW did not benefit salmon abundance, which was correlated positively with stream width and negatively with altitude, nor did it benefit sculpin abundances, which mainly decreased with annual average air temperature and altitude.

The quantity of LW strongly diminished with stream width, and, to a lesser extent, with stream depth, altitude, annual average air temperature, and forest age, whereas it increased with stream velocity, slope, and forest cover.

The results suggest that LW can be used as an effective restoration tool for brown trout in shallow and narrow streams, especially in areas with little shade. Here, the addition of LW may help to alleviate the impacts of forest clearance and climate change.
Guaranteed cost control of cyber‐physical systems with packet dropouts under dos jamming attacks
Authors: Wang Mufeng , Xu Bugong
Published: May 2019

Cyber‐Physical Systems (CPSs) are vulnerable to malicious network attacks due to tight combination of cyber‐system and physical system through a more open network communication. In this paper, a guaranteed cost control problem for a CPS under DoS jamming attacks is solved via both state feedback and output feedback methods. Specifically, an energy constraint DoS jammer with clear periodic attack strategy is proposed to attack wireless channel and to degrade the system performance. Without knowing the DoS jammer's attack strategy, a passive attack‐tolerant mechanism is established, and the corresponding state feedback and output feedback controllers are designed to achieve guaranteed cost control for the CPS with inherent packet dropouts under DoS jamming attacks. Finally, numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the guaranteed cost controllers.
Freezing of gait and dementia in parkinsonism: A retrospective case–control study
Authors: Palermo Giovanni , Frosini Daniela , Corsi Andrea , Giuntini Martina , Mazzucchi Sonia , Del Prete Eleonora , Bonuccelli Ubaldo , Ceravolo Roberto
Published: May 2019

Objectives

To support the cognitive model of Freezing of Gait (FoG) we investigated FoG in a cohort of patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB).

Materials and Methods

We assessed FoG frequency in 19 DLB patients compared to 19 control PD patients within 2 years from symptom onset and with at least 5 years follow‐up. The two groups were matched by age and motor presentation at onset, severity of parkinsonism and disease duration. The presence and severity of FoG was identified as those with a score of 1 or greater on subitem 14 of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part II  (UPDRS II).

Results

At T0, 68.4% DLB and 10.5% PD patients experienced FoG ≥1. The prevalence of FoG increased with disease progression (94.7% DLB and 47.3% PD subjects had FoG ≥1 at T5). DLB also showed a more severe FoG (FoG ≥2) than PD (21% vs. 0% at T0 and 52.6% vs. 10.5% at T5), consistently with previous studies reporting FoG prevalence in DLB.

Conclusion

This is the first study looking specifically at FoG in DLB, identifying it as a frequent and early feature of DLB and emphasizing the crucial role of cognitive impairment in the occurrence of this mysterious phenomenon.
SART3D: A MATLAB toolbox for spatial audio and signal processing education
Authors: Cobos Maximo , Roger Sandra
Published: May 2019

Signal processing courses form usually a common block within the curriculum of electrical engineering and computer science undergraduate studies. While signal processing is the science behind many technologies used in our everyday life, students usually feel that the practical use of signal processing subjects is obscured due to their intensive theoretical perspective. In this context, audio signal processing is a discipline where many general signal processing concepts can be easily experienced with sound. Specifically, spatial audio, i.e., the manipulation of audio signals with the aim of capturing and/or recreating the spatial impression of sound, provides an excellent and appealing application framework for signal processing education. This paper presents SART3D, an open‐source MATLAB toolbox that facilitates spatial audio and signal processing education by enabling students to focus on the implementation and testing of core algorithms and to experience their own results using real‐time processing. The time required for other nonrelevant aspects, such as hardware and driver set‐up or user interaction, is significantly reduced. Experience evaluated throughout four academic years and 45 students (25% female) indicate they felt particularly engaged when SART3D was included in the course, improving their performance and understanding of the subject. In this context, the four factors defined by the Student Course Engagement Questionnaire (skills, emotional, participation, and performance) were analyzed to assess engagement in its multiple dimensions.
Optical Control of Antibody Activity by Using Photocleavable Bivalent Peptide–DNA Locks
Authors: Wouters Simone F. A. , Wijker Elvira , Merkx Maarten
Published: May 2019

Antibody‐based molecular recognition plays a central role in today's life sciences, ranging from immunoassays to molecular imaging and antibody‐based therapeutics. Control over antibody activity by using external triggers such as light could further increase the specificity of antibody‐based targeting. Here we present bivalent peptide–DNA ligands containing photocleavable linkers as a noncovalent approach by which to allow photoactivation of antibody activity. Light‐triggered cleavage of the 3‐amino‐3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)propionic acid peptide linker converted the high‐affinity bivalent peptide–DNA lock into weakly binding monovalent ligands, effectively restoring antibody targeting of cell‐surface receptors. In this work, a proof of principle was provided with an anti‐hemagglutinin antibody, but the molecular design of the lock is generic and applicable to any monoclonal antibody for which an epitope or mimotope of sufficient affinity is available.
Comparison of intracoronary versus intravenous adenosine‐induced maximal hyperemia for fractional flow reserve measurement: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Abo‐Aly Mohamed , Lolay Georges , Adams Christopher , Ahmed Ahmed Elsharawy , Abdel‐Latif Ahmed , Ziada Khaled M.
Published: May 2019

Objective

We sought to perform a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the available literature comparing fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements after administration of adenosine using intracoronary (IC) bolus versus standard continuous intravenous (IV) infusion.

Background

FFR is considered the gold standard for invasive assessment of coronary lesions of intermediate severity. IV adenosine is recommended to induce hyperemia; however, IC adenosine is widely used for convenience. The difference between IV and IC administration in lesions assessment is not well studied.

Methods

We systematically searched MEDLINE and relevant databases for studies comparing IV with IC adenosine administration for FFR measurement. We reviewed data pertaining to adenosine doses, side effects, and FFR values.

Results

Eight studies addressing the primary question were identified. Dose of IC adenosine varied between 36 and 600 μg. Compared to IV adenosine infusion, the sensitivity of IC administration is 0.805 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.664–0.896; p < .001), specificity is 0.965 (95% CI: 0.932–0.983; p < .001), positive likelihood ratio is 24.218 (95% CI: 12,263–47.830; p < .001), negative likelihood ratio is 0.117 (95% CI: 0.033–0.411; p < .01), and diagnostic odds ratio is 274.225 [95% CI: 92.731–810.946; p < .001]. Overall, hemodynamic side effects and symptoms were reported more frequently with IV adenosine.

Conclusions

The available literature suggests that IC adenosine is well tolerated and may provide equivalent diagnostic accuracy compared to IV administration. However, variability in dosing regimens does not allow definitive conclusions regarding noninferiority of IC approach compared to IV administration.
Parapharyngeal abscess: A difficult diagnosis in younger children
Authors: Sudhanthar Sathyanarayan , Garg Anjali , Gold Jonathan , Napolova Olga
Published: May 2019

Parapharyngeal abscess is a difficult diagnosis to make in the pediatric population. Children <3 years of age present with fever, often the only sign at the initial presentation, thus causing a delay in diagnosis until the patient presents with more focal findings, such as a painful neck mass. Repeated follow‐up visits with the patient until the diagnosis is confirmed are critically important to prevent complications.
Crystal Structures and Melting Behaviors of 2D and 3D Anionic Coordination Polymers Containing Organometallic Ionic Liquid Components
Authors: Kimata Hironori , Mochida Tomoyuki
Published: May 2019

Although coordination polymers generally do not melt, several that do melt have been synthesized recently and have drawn much attention. In this study, two‐ and three‐dimensional coordination polymers that melt were synthesized, [Ru(Cp)(C6H5R)][M{C(CN)3}2] (R=H, Me, Et; M=K, Rb; Cp=C5H5), which are complex salts comprising M[C(CN)3] and organometallic ionic liquids [Ru(Cp)(C6H5R)][C(CN)3]. They have anionic [M{C(CN)3}2]n− coordination polymer frameworks, whose dimensionalities depend on the size of the organometallic cation inside. Their melting points decreased with increasing cation substituent length and size of the alkali metal ion (Tm=102–239 °C), and these low‐melting‐point coordination polymers exhibited incongruent melting, forming mixtures of solid M[C(CN)3] and ionic liquid upon melting. Using the same method, coordination polymers were synthesized with various bridging ligands, [Co(Cp)2][MX2] (X=B(CN)4, C(CN)3, N(CN)2; M=K, Na), as well as a paramagnetic coordination polymer, [Fe(Cp)2][K{C(CN)3}2].
Accessing the First nido‐Carborane‐Substituted Diphosphetane: A Ligand and Synthon for nido‐Carboranylphosphanes
Authors: Coburger Peter , Bielytskyi Pavlo , Williamson Darcy , Rys Evgeny , Kreienbrink Anika , Lönnecke Peter , Matysik Jörg , Hey‐Hawkins Evamarie
Published: May 2019

Deboronation of a carborane‐substituted diphosphetane 2 in toluene yielded the first nido‐carboranyldiphosphetane 1. The P−P bond in 1 can be broken via dismutation reactions with diaryl dichalcogenides yielding nido‐carboranyl bis‐phosphanes that were not accessible via established synthetic protocols. Additionally, transition metal complexes of 1 could be isolated including one coordination polymer. Notably, when the deboronation of 2 is carried out in ethanol, unprecedented nido‐carborane‐substituted secondary bis‐phosphane monoxides (3, 4) are obtained. These compounds are interesting starting materials for further reactivity studies due to their P−H bonds. Experimental findings are supported by DFT calculations including the calculation of reaction mechanisms and NMR spectroscopic parameters.
The non‐genetic paternal factors for congenital heart defects: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Peng Jiayu , Meng Zhuo , Zhou Shuang , Zhou Yue , Wu Yujian , Wang Qingjie , Wang Jian , Sun Kun
Published: May 2019

Background

Advances have been made in identifying genetic etiologies and maternal risk factors of congenital heart defects (CHDs), while few literatures are available regarding paternal risk factors for CHDs. Thus, we aim to conduct a meta‐analysis and systematic review about the non‐genetic paternal risk factors for CHDs.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library online databases and identified 31 studies published between 1990 and 2018 according to the inclusion criteria. Paternal risk factors were divided into subgroups, and summarized odd ratios (OR) were calculated.

Results

Paternal age between 24 and 29 years decreased the risk of CHDs in the offspring (OR = 0.90 [0.82, 0.98]), while paternal age ≥ 35 years old increased the risk of CHDs (35‐39 years old: OR = 1.14 [1.09, 1.19], and ≥ 40 years: OR = 1.27 [1.14, 1.42]). Paternal cigarette smoking increased the risk of CHDs in a dose‐dependent way. Paternal wine drinking (OR = 1.47 [1.05, 2.07]) and exposure to chemical agents or drugs (OR = 2.15 [1.53, 3.02]) also increased the risk of CHDs. Some specific paternal occupations were also associated with increased risk for CHDs or CHD subtypes including factory workers, janitors, painters, and plywood mill workers.

Conclusions

This meta‐analysis and systematic review suggested that advanced paternal age, cigarette smoking, wine drinking, exposure to chemical agents or drugs and some specific occupations were associated with an increased risk of CHDs. More measures should be taken to reduce occupational and environment exposures. At the same time, fertility at certain age and establishment of healthy life habits are strongly recommended.
Switchable Solubility of Azobenzene‐Based Bolaamphiphiles
Authors: Urner Leonhard H. , Schade Boris , Schulze Maiko , Folmert Kristin , Haag Rainer , Pagel Kevin
Published: May 2019

The ability to design amphiphiles with predictable solubility properties is of everlasting interest in supramolecular chemistry. Relevant structural parameters include the hydrophobic–hydrophilic balance and structural flexibility. In this work, we investigate the water solubility of azobenzene‐based triglycerol bolaamphiphiles (TGBAs). In particular, we analyzed the structural effects of backbone hydrophobicity, flexibility, and cis/trans isomerization on the water solubility of a subset of five TGBAs. This leads to the first example of a non‐ionic bolaamphiphile whose water solubility can be changed by irradiation with light. The underlying kinetics were monitored using liquid chromatography and a closer analysis of the underlying aggregation processes provides a mechanistic understanding of the light‐driven dissolution process. We anticipate that the results obtained will help to engineer bolaamphiphiles with predictable solution properties in the future.