bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design Education in the Post‐Digital Age By John Maeda
Authors: Nussbaum Bruce
Published: October 2023

Recently, the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) in New York City put on an exhibition called Materializing the Postdigital. It showcased the original and beautiful clothes and sculptures that can now be designed and created using 3D printing and other digital making technologies. The most powerful message of the exhibition was the title itself because it highlighted, for the first time, the fact that we have finally incorporated a new generation of making technologies and can finally get back to the heart and soul of design—the making itself.

Which is why John Maeda's “Design Education in the Post‐Digital Age” is so important. For 20 years, a generation really, designers, entrepreneurs, business managers and professors have been busy struggling with the new technologies of making. It has been a tense and difficult time, particularly in education, where change comes slowly. Maeda aptly highlights these struggles in academia and how the rise of new digital design technologies has led to conflict between older and younger designers and between older professors and younger students. He also states boldly what so many have said quietly, which is that the obsession with digital technology has often led to a segregation of creativity from technology. Or, for those who reject digital technology entirely, it has led to a stifling of creativity.

Maeda's message is singularly clear. Let's get on with integrating technology into our process so we can return to our true goals as artists and innovators creating the new and building a better future for people. The growing integration of design with high‐tech startups shows us what can be accomplished.
Brand Design Imperatives for Emerging Global Markets By Jerome C. Kathman
Authors: Kathman Jerome C.
Published: October 2023

Fifteen years ago, I wrote an article concerning the emerging global marketplace for fast‐moving consumer goods. I shared some lessons from our practice as we helped consumer‐goods multinationals navigate what was a time of rapid and accelerating change. Reading this article a decade and a half later, I am pleased that the counsel provided then remains valuable today.

At the time, the command economies of Eastern Europe were collapsing and the emerging markets in South Asia and South America were rising. The global marketplace for consumer brands was exploding.

Now, in 2015, packaged‐goods brands and retailers continue their march towards globalization. Hyper markets today are found in every corner of the world. The emerging middle class in China, Russia, Brazil, and many other countries is larger and more sophisticated than I would have imagined possible back then.

The consumer's voice is more powerful than ever in the age of social media. The role of e‐commerce is today at a scale unimagined at the time this paper was published.

The amount of information available today about the world's consumer is overwhelming. Loyalty cards and other big data tools allow consumer‐goods companies to understand purchasing patterns and consumer habits as never before.

The new, more discerning middle‐class consumer will continue to drive change and innovation in the marketplace. For companies, making good choices and making them quickly will determine the winners and losers in the marketplace for brands.
Setting the Standard for Environmental Sustainability: The Need for Good Metrics
Authors: Schultz Tobias
Published: October 2023

Drought in California, record heat in Europe, collapsing ice shelves in Antarctica, and bigger storms, it seems, everywhere. Our world faces environmental impacts that threaten human sustainability—in some places, within just 20 years. Designers want to work with sustainability in mind. But where can they find reliable, scientifically sound metrics to help them make the inevitable tradeoffs?

What does environmental sustainability really mean? And—amid all the competing claims of greenness—where can designers get reliable information about the materials they are using?
Innovation Design: Made in China 2025
Authors: Liu Sylvia Xihui
Published: October 2023

The Chinese focus on innovation design as a way to transform challenges into opportunities in the knowledge economy.

From speed to quality, from products to brands, from “made” to “created”—China's new design brief.
Strategic Design Versus Silent Design: A Reckoning
Authors: Shams Maha , Lam Busayawan
Published: October 2023

When non‐designers take on design duties, the results are often not what was intended. It's not that these marketing managers, programmers, and engineers don't intend to do right by their companies; it's that no one in their organizations has thought of design and its place in the big picture of corporate strategy and planning. The consequences are significant.

Silent design speaks just as loudly as strategic design. But not in a good way.
Design Value Index Exemplars Outperform the S&P 500 Index (Again) and a New Crop of Design Leaders Emerge
Authors: Rae Jeneanne
Published: October 2023

The Power & Value of Design Continues to Grow across the S&P 500 A Special Report Sponsored by the Design Management Institute in Partnership with Motiv Strategies

The Design Management Institute 2015 Design Value Index (DVI) shows a 211% return over the S&P 500. This marks the third year in a row we have seen results in excess of 200% over the S&P.
10 Things for the Ideal Design RFP
Authors: Calde Steve
Published: October 2023

RFPs can be an obstacle between a firm and the client, making it hard for both parties to evaluate the match. While it's important to request information from potential design partners that allows for side‐by‐side comparisons about capabilities, costs and approaches, you should also discern whether a firm is a good philosophical and culture fit.

Ten recommendations for making a Request for Proposal (RFP) a highly effective tool for finding the perfect design and strategy partner.
Modern Infringements: The Unsavory Side of 3D Printing and Digital Replicas
Authors: Katz Robert S.
Published: October 2023

Once upon a time, knock‐off products were fodder for swap meets and city street corners. Now technological advancements have created the opportunity and market for new types of infringements‐ the creation, use and sale of 3D printable files and products originally created by others.

If your company is making products that are sold to consumers, the chances are high that you will encounter 3D model patent infringements.
Q&A
Authors: Mayo Noel , Justice Lorraine , Woods Meshella Eddye , Nyanning Kwame , Harrison Charles
Published: October 2023

Noel Mayo was the first African‐American—not to mention the first African‐American industrial designer—to graduate from Philadelphia's University of the Arts. And even after that, he says, “I learned the hard way that I had to exceed all expectations.”

From Pittsburgh to Columbus, Ohio, to Hong Kong to Atlanta and Rochester, New York, Dr. Lorraine Justice's career has gone from one pioneering role to the next.

Looking back on a life spent creating opportunities and paving the way for those to come—in the federal government and elsewhere.

“It takes a special kind of designer to be successful at a place like the Firm,” says McKinsey's vice president of experience design.

During his career, Harrison executed more than 700 designs, a significant number of which were successful in the marketplace, and received the National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2008. He was also Sears Roebuck's first African‐American executive. It was not easy getting there.
Ideas for Mapping Lifeworld and Everyday Life in Practical Social Pedagogy
Authors: Úcar Xavier
Published: October 2023

Since the 1970s, the concepts of “lifeworld” and “everyday life” have been part of the discourse of social pedagogy and social and educational work in general. Xavier Úcar's objective in this article is to generate and communicate socio‐pedagogical knowledge that helps social pedagogues to build socio‐educational relationships that are more effective, more sustainable, more satisfactory, and ultimately richer in terms of both experiences and learning for participants. A conceptually oriented, nonsystematic analysis procedure was used to conduct this research. The procedure involved an in‐depth investigation of documents that focus on the two target areas of this study: (1) social pedagogy, and (2) lifeworld and everyday life. The results describe the theoretical background of lifeworld and everyday life, discuss the development of the perspective of “lifeworld orientation” within the framework of social pedagogy in Germany, and analyze how everyday life is understood through actions undertaken by social pedagogues. These results provide ideas for mapping the essential dimensions of everyday life from the perspective of social pedagogy.
Emotional intelligence, spelling performance and intelligence quotient differences based on the executive function profile of schoolchildren
Authors: Muñoz‐Parreño Julián Alfonso , Belando‐Pedreño Noelia , Valero‐Valenzuela Alfonso
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of intelligence quotient with spelling performance, executive functions and emotional intelligence and to analyse the profiles in executive functions presented by the participants and the differences at the level of intelligence quotient, spelling performance and emotional intelligence. The sample consisted of 125 Spanish primary school students (58 girls and 67 boys) in a rural environment, with a mean age of 10.92 (±.68) years. Intelligence quotient and spelling performance were measured using the BADyG test; executive functions were assessed using the NIH EXAMINER battery and emotional intelligence was assessed using the Bar‐On questionnaire. The results show a high correlation of intelligence quotient with spelling performance, executive functions and two emotional intelligence dimensions (adaptability and interpersonal). Two clusters were observed: a high executive functions profile (n = 74, 59.7%), with high scores on all measured variables (working memory, planning, cognitive flexibility, inhibition and verbal fluency), and a low executive functions profile (n = 50, 40.3%) with low scores on all executive functions‐related variables. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANCOVA) found variations between the different clusters in the intelligence quotient, spelling performance and interpersonal emotional intelligence variables, showing that students with a higher executive functions profile had a higher intelligence quotient, spelling performance and interpersonal emotional intelligence values. This study could help to better define what kind of teaching methodology favours the development of academic performance in schoolchildren and the connections between important educational aspects such as emotional intelligence and executive functions.
Intracardiac thrombi fluttering like hair in the wind at VT ablation
Authors: Hasegawa Kanae , Powers Edward M. , Yoneda Zachary T. , Richardson Travis D. , Stevenson William G.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) reveals mobile thrombus on implantable electronic device leads in some patients undergoing electrophysiologic procedures.

Methods

ICE was performed in a patient undergoing ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation.

Results

ICE showed extensive mobile thrombi on the implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead. Radiofrequency catheter ablation of VT from perimitral scar was safely performed via a retrograde aortic approach. After the procedure, chronic anticoagulation was initiated. CT‐angiography of the chest 2 months later showed no pulmonary emboli.

Conclusions

The significance of these thrombi, as related to chronic pulmonary embolization, warrants further study.
Anteroseptal accessory pathways: Killing one bird with two stones
Authors: Abdelrahim Elsheikh , Miller John , Maskoun Waddah
Published: October 2023

Background and Aims

Ablation of anteroseptal accessory pathways (AS‐AP) is challenging, with lower success and more complications compared to other APs. AS‐APs can be successfully ablated from the right atrium (RA) or the aortic valve's noncoronary cusp (NCC). We report two patients who required a hybrid ablation approach to achieve successful abolition of both anterograde and retrograde AS‐AP conduction.

Methods and Results

A 21‐year‐old female with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and pre‐excitation on electrocardiogram (ECG) underwent electrophysiology study (EPS) confirming an AS‐AP with anterograde and retrograde conduction. Ablation in the NCC achieved immediate and persistent anterograde conduction block. Electrophysiological maneuvers showed persistent retrograde AP conduction and orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia (ORT) remained easily inducible. Additional ablation in the NCC did not eliminate retrograde conduction. Further ablation in the RA opposite the NCC at the site of earliest retrograde atrial activation during ORT restored sinus and eliminated retrograde AP conduction. A 52‐year‐old male with SVT and ECG with pre‐excitation underwent EPS that confirmed an AS‐AP with anterograde and retrograde conduction. Ablation was performed in the NCC resulting in immediate elimination of pre‐excitation. Retrograde conduction was still present and confirmed by repeating electrophysiological maneuvers. Ablation was performed in the RA opposite the successful ablation site in the NCC, eliminating retrograde AP conduction.

Conclusion

Two cases of AS‐AP with anterograde and retrograde conduction and successful elimination of pathway conduction required a hybrid ablation approach from the NCC and RA. This approach may be helpful in other cases to improve success rates without using excessive ablation near the normal conduction system.
The Ripple Effects of Compliance: Reconfiguring EU Policy Effectiveness in Transboundary Environmental Governance
Authors: Lappe‐Osthege Teresa
Published: October 2023

Research on EU policy effectiveness focuses on implementation and compliance within the EU; however, there is a need for a greater understanding of how and why transboundary socio‐ecological issues challenge policy effectiveness beyond the EU's borders. This article introduces the innovative concept of ‘ripple effects’ of compliance, which are harms perpetuated by structural inequalities, and discusses their implications for EU environmental governance. Contributing to transnational compliance research by integrating political ecology and green criminology, the analysis builds on qualitative data on the illegal bird trade from the Western Balkans into the EU. It demonstrates that compliance with conservation policies within Member States undermines EU policy objectives through crime displacement and institutional misfit, which externalise environmental harm to the Western Balkans. Increased enforcement and monitoring of policy implementation alone cannot function as a panacea for policy ineffectiveness. Addressing these dynamics requires strengthened multilevel and cross‐jurisdictional governance that encompasses entire ecosystems.
α‐SMA+ cancer‐associated fibroblasts increased tumor enhancement ratio on contrast‐enhanced multidetector‐row computed tomography in stages I–III colon cancer
Authors: Wang Zhanhuai , Han Shugao , Xu Kailun , Yang Qi , Wang Xinhong , Tang Yang , Shao Yingkuan , Ye Yao
Published: October 2023

Background and Aim

Our prior research revealed that the tumor enhancement ratio (TER) on triphasic abdominal contrast‐enhanced MDCT (CE‐MDCT) scans was a prognostic factor for patients with stages I–III colon cancer. Building upon this finding, the present study aims to investigate the proteomic changes in colon cancer patients with varying TER values.

Methods

TER was analyzed on preoperative triphasic CE‐MDCT scans of 160 stages I–III colon cancer patients. The survival outcomes of those in the low‐TER and high‐TER groups were compared. Proteomic analysis on colon cancer tissues was performed by mass spectrometry (MS) and verified by immune‐histological chemistry (IHC) assays. In vivo, mouse xenograft models were employed to test the function of target proteins identified through the MS. CE‐MDCT scans were conducted on mice xenografts, and the TER values were compared.

Results

Patients in the high‐TER group had a significantly worse prognosis than those in the low‐TER group. Proteomic analysis of colon cancer tissues revealed 153 differentially expressed proteins between the two groups. A correlation between TER and the abundance of α‐SMA protein in tumor tissue was observed. IHC assays further confirmed that α‐SMA protein expression was significantly increased in high‐TER colon cancer, predominantly in cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the cancer stroma. Moreover, CAFs promoted the growth of CRC xenografts in vivo and increased TER.

Conclusions

Our study identified the distinct protein changes in colon cancer with low and high TER for the first time. The presence of CAFs may promote the growth of colon cancer and contribute to an increased TER.
Metabolic changes with intermittent fasting
Authors: Lange Maria G. , Coffey Alice A. , Coleman Paul C. , Barber Thomas M. , Van Rens Thijs , Oyebode Oyinlola , Abbott Sally , Hanson Petra
Published: October 2023

Background

The prevalence of obesity is rising globally and effective strategies to treat obesity are needed. Intermittent fasting, a dietary intervention for weight management, has received growing interest from the general public, as well as healthcare professionals, as a form of lifestyle intervention.

Methods

We executed a rapid review using PUBMED database to identify systematic reviews that examined the impact of intermittent fasting on metabolic indices, published between 2011 and 2022.

Results

Intermittent fasting leads to weight loss of a similar magnitude to continuous energy restriction. Most of the evidence shows that intermittent fasting leads to greater fat loss as measured by fat mass (kg) or body fat percentage compared to an ad libitum diet, but fat loss attained during intermittent fasting is not significantly different to continuous energy restriction, although recent evidence shows intermittent fasting to be superior. There is mixed evidence for the impact of intermittent fasting on insulin resistance, fasting glucose and lipid profile. Some studies focused on populations of Muslim people, which showed that Ramadan fasting may lead to weight loss and improvement of metabolic parameters during fasting, although the effects are reversed when fasting is finished.

Conclusions

Intermittent fasting is more effective than an ad libitum dietary intake, and equally or more effective as continuous energy restriction, for weight management. However, there is inconclusive evidence on whether intermittent fasting has a clinically beneficial effect on glucose and lipid metabolism.
Consensus recommendations on the use of injectable poly‐l‐lactic acid in Asian patients
Authors: Avelar Luiz , Ong Amanda , Ong David , Wai Anthony Chui Shing , Wai Arthur Yu Tsz , Sungkyu Jung , Seok Lim Han , Tam Elias , Leng Shiau Ee , Huang Jeff , Chao Yates , Bråsäter Daniel , Prygova Inna
Published: October 2023

Background

Injectable poly‐L‐lactic acid (PLLA) has been proven safe and effective with numerous medical applications for more than 25 years. The product has been approved in over 40 countries and is being used for soft tissue augmentation in the face and certain body parts. With the increased demand for subtle and natural‐looking aesthetic treatments in the Asia‐Pacific region, there is also a heightened need for consistent preparation and effective treatment methodologies to optimize outcomes for Asian patients.

Methods

The body of evidence in medical literature, clinical data of presented case reports, and the collective experience of the authors are reflected in these consensus recommendations, which also take under consideration the availability of biostimulators in the Asia‐Pacific region.

Results

The resulting consensus recommendations include patient selection and assessment, management of treatment expectations, appropriate preparation and storage, proper injection techniques and treatment plans, management of adverse effects, PLLA combination with other facial rejuvenation procedures, and other constructive considerations.

Conclusions

In the above consensus recommendations, the authors shared their best practices in accordance with the updated preparation and treatment protocols of PLLA. These recommendations represent the clinical and real‐world techniques utilized by authors in providing PLLA treatments for Asian patients.
Treatment outcomes of early‐stage endometrial cancer patients: A propensity score matching of vaginal brachytherapy versus pelvic radiotherapy
Authors: Petsuksiri Janjira , Setakornnukul Jiraporn , Berpan Aniwat , Thephamongkhol Kullathorn , Dankulchai Pittaya , Jaishuen Atthapon
Published: October 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to report the treatment outcomes of radiation therapy for early‐stage endometrial cancer patients. In addition, this study intended to identify high‐risk factors that require pelvic radiotherapy (PRT) in addition to vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) for intermediate‐risk endometrial cancer patients.

Methods

Patients with early‐stage endometrial cancer receiving postoperative VBT alone or with PRT were included. Propensity score matching was used to balance the two study groups. The primary endpoint was locoregional recurrence (LRR). Age‐adjusted Charlson comorbidity index and substantial lymphovascular space invasion were selected for subgroup analyses to identify the benefits of PRT over VBT alone.

Results

From 2005 to 2017, a total of 288 patients underwent analysis following propensity score matching. Of these, 144 received VBT and 144 received PRT. There was no significant difference in 5‐year LRR between VBT and PRT for both intermediate (0% vs. 0%) and high‐intermediate risk patients (3.5% VBT vs. 5.4% PRT; HR 0.54: 0.05–6.00; p = 0.616). The subgroup analyses revealed no significant factors favoring PRT over VBT. Patients with high comorbidities may have higher risks of non‐cancer death after receiving PRT.

Conclusions

Postoperative VBT alone is sufficient for early‐stage intermediate‐risk endometrial cancer patients.
Too late to buy a home? School redistricting and the timing and extent of capitalization
Authors: Ding Xiaozhou , Bollinger Christopher , Clark Michael , Hoyt William
Published: October 2023

In the past 50 years, a voluminous literature estimating the value of schools through capitalization in home prices has emerged. Prior research has identified capitalization using a variety of approaches including discontinuities caused by boundaries. Here, we use changes in school boundaries and the opening of a new school in Fayette County (Lexington), Kentucky to identify this capitalization. Critical to properly estimating the effect of redistricting is to account for when information on redistricting is available. We treat the information about the effects of zoning as occurring in three stages: announcement of the intent to open the new high school and redistricting, approval of the specific redistricting plan (map), and implementation (opening of the new high school and actual changes in boundaries). We find significant changes in values for homes redistricted from lower‐performing schools and we find that this capitalization occurs well before implementation of the redistricting. As we show, failure to account for capitalization occurring before implementation will attenuate and even change the sign of capitalization.
Does hepatitis delta virus have a preference for hepatitis B virus genotype? A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Beghin Justine , Meier‐Stephenson Vanessa
Published: October 2023

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a deficient virus that requires the surface proteins of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) to complete its replication. HDV is thus only found in those already infected with HBV (~5% worldwide). There are eight different HDV genotypes (1–8) and 10 HBV genotypes (A–J), each having fairly distinct geographic distributions. While their pairings may be coincidental based on epidemiological occurrence, some evidence exists regarding possible virologic basis for genotype dominance and patterns. Here we sought to determine which HBV genotype is most often linked with active HDV infection and speculate on whether this may represent a viral ‘preference’. Electronic databases with OVID Medline were comprehensively searched for studies published between 1977 and 2022 indexing the word ‘genotype’ and all permutations of ‘HDV’ (hepatitis D virus, hepatitis delta, etc.). Primary studies of patient samples reporting genotype data for either or both of HDV and HBV were tabulated. The initial search revealed 419 articles and was narrowed to 133 studies reporting genotype data for either or both HBV and HDV. We limited our search to cases with detectable HDV RNA. These represented over 5800 samples from over 70 countries. Of these, 1947 samples had paired genotype data for both viruses. The most common pairing was HDV‐1 with HBV‐D, but it remains unclear whether this represents a viral ‘preference’ or mere co‐endemicity of the two viruses. Determining if there is a virologic link between HBV and HDV genotypes may have important implications for emerging HDV and HBV research.
Prevalence and clinical relevance of cholelithiasis in cats: A multicenter retrospective study of 98 cases
Authors: Brunet Audrey , Duperrier‐Simond Cyril , Amoyal Suzanne , Benchekroun Ghita , Hernandez Juan , Lecot Lorris , Lurier Thibaut , Cadoré Jean‐Luc , Krafft Emilie
Published: October 2023

Background

Cholelithiasis is an uncommon and mainly incidental finding in dogs; current literature on this topic is scarce in cats.

Hypothesis

Report prevalence, clinical presentation, management, and outcome of cholelithiasis in cats.

Animals

Ninety‐eight cats with cholelithiasis.

Methods

Retrospective multicenter case series. Electronic databases from 3 hospitals were searched for cats diagnosed with cholelithiasis by ultrasonography (US). Cholelithiasis was classified as incidental (IC) or symptomatic (SC) depending on clinicopathological signs, biliary tract US appearance, and presence of another disease potentially explaining the clinical presentation. Multivariate analysis was used to investigate factors associated with clinical expression of cholelithiasis and, within the SC group, survival.

Results

The observed prevalence of cholelithiasis was 0.99% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79%‐1.19%) among cats that underwent abdominal US. Cholelithiasis was classified as IC in 41% and SC in 59%. Choleliths found in multiple locations within the biliary tract (odds ratio [OR], 8.11; 95% CI, 2.32‐34.15; P = .001) or associated with US signs of obstruction (OR, 18.47; 95% CI, 2.13‐2413.34; P = .004) were significantly associated with SC. Concurrent hepatobiliary diseases were suspected or confirmed in 83% of cases with SC. Forty‐three cats (74%) with SC survived to discharge. Biliary tract obstruction (BTO) was negatively associated with survival (OR, 13.87; 95% CI, 1.54‐124.76; P = .001). None of the cats with IC that had available follow‐up (47%) developed clinicopathological signs related to cholelithiasis.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Cholelithiasis is uncommon and can be asymptomatic in cats. Symptomatic cholelithiasis frequently is associated with another hepatobiliary disease or BTO or both. Biliary tract obstruction is associated with poorer outcome.
Feminization, Ageing, and Occupational Change in Europe in the Last 25 Years
Authors: Mariscal‐de‐Gante Álvaro , Palencia‐Esteban Amaia , Grubanov‐Boskovic Sara , Fernández‐Macías Enrique
Published: October 2023

This paper presents new evidence on the interaction between demographic and occupational change in Europe over the last 25 years. We use data from the European Union Labour Force Survey covering six European countries. The analysis is based on a cross‐sectional comparison between the population and employment distributions in 1995 and 2019. This strategy allows us to study the changing demographic dynamics, which have brought a more feminized, aged, and educated working population, in a context of structural employment change, where higher job polarization or occupational upgrading are the main patterns. The results indicate that the increasing female participation has been associated with a strong general process of occupational upgrading that particularly benefited women. Still, the occupational profile of women is polarized relative to men. Although the process of educational upgrading was also stronger for women and overall they improved their occupational profile more than that of men, we find declining occupational returns to higher education for female workers in two countries. Finally, while European labor markets could accommodate the large increase in older workers, their occupational profile suffered some downgrading.
ZmNRT1.1B (ZmNPF6.6) determines nitrogen use efficiency via regulation of nitrate transport and signalling in maize
Authors: Cao Huairong , Liu Zhi , Guo Jia , Jia Zhongtao , Shi Yandong , Kang Kai , Peng Wushuang , Wang Zhangkui , Chen Limei , Neuhaeuser Benjamin , Wang Yong , Liu Xiangguo , Hao Dongyun , Yuan Lixing
Published: October 2023

Nitrate (NO3−) is crucial for optimal plant growth and development and often limits crop productivity under low availability. In comparison with model plant Arabidopsis, the molecular mechanisms underlying NO3− acquisition and utilization remain largely unclear in maize. In particular, only a few genes have been exploited to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Here, we demonstrated that NO3−‐inducible ZmNRT1.1B (ZmNPF6.6) positively regulated NO3−‐dependent growth and NUE in maize. We showed that the tandem duplicated proteoform ZmNRT1.1C is irrelevant to maize seedling growth under NO3− supply; however, the loss of function of ZmNRT1.1B significantly weakened plant growth under adequate NO3− supply under both hydroponic and field conditions. The 15N‐labelled NO3− absorption assay indicated that ZmNRT1.1B mediated the high‐affinity NO3−‐transport and root‐to‐shoot NO3− translocation. Transcriptome analysis further showed, upon NO3− supply, ZmNRT1.1B promotes cytoplasmic‐to‐nuclear shuttling of ZmNLP3.1 (ZmNLP8), which co‐regulates the expression of genes involved in NO3− response, cytokinin biosynthesis and carbon metabolism. Remarkably, overexpression of ZmNRT1.1B in modern maize hybrids improved grain yield under N‐limiting fields. Taken together, our study revealed a crucial role of ZmNRT1.1B in high‐affinity NO3− transport and signalling and offers valuable genetic resource for breeding N use efficient high‐yield cultivars.
Effects of niacin supplementation during in vitro culture on the developmental competence of porcine embryos
Authors: Almubarak Areeg , Osman Rana , Lee Joohyeong , Yu Il‐Jeoung , Jeon Yubyeol
Published: October 2023

Niacin is a water‐soluble vitamin belonging to the vitamin B complex. It has been found to possess various biological activities, including antioxidant and lipid modification capacities. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of niacin treatment in porcine in vitro culture (IVC) medium on embryo developmental competence after parthenogenetic activation. IVC medium was supplemented with different concentrations of niacin (0 [control], 300, 600 and 900 μM). The results showed that embryos cultured in an IVC medium supplemented with 300 and 600 μM niacin had an increased cleavage rate (p < .05). In addition, 300 μM niacin treatment resulted in a higher blastocyst formation rate than the control and other niacin‐treated groups. However, the total cell number did not differ significantly among the experimental groups. Niacin supplementation at 600 μM decreased reactive oxygen species, whereas treatment with 300, 600 and 900 μM increased glutathione levels in day two embryos. On day seven, 300 μM niacin exhibited improved fatty acid levels and fewer lipid droplets than the control group. Furthermore, gene expression at the mRNA level was performed on day two and day seven embryos, treated with or without 300 μM niacin. The expression of anti‐apoptotic BCL2 and lipid metabolism PLIN2‐related genes were upregulated, whereas the pro‐apoptotic BAX and CASPASE3 were downregulated with niacin supplementation compared with the control group. However, SIRT1, a gene related to energy and the oxidative state, was up‐regulated in niacin‐treated day two embryos (p < .05). Overall, the results indicate that niacin has a beneficial effect on pre‐implantation embryo development by modulating lipid metabolism and reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis. The expression patterns of PLIN2 and SIRT1 reported here suggest that these transcripts may be involved in the mechanism by which niacin affects the developmental capacity of IVC embryos.
Extracting and classifying exceptional COVID‐19 measures from multilingual legal texts: The merits and limitations of automated approaches
Authors: Egger Clara , Caselli Tommaso , Tziafas Georgios , Phalle Eugénie de Saint , Vries Wietse de
Published: October 2023

This paper contributes to ongoing scholarly debates on the merits and limitations of computational legal text analysis by reflecting on the results of a research project documenting exceptional COVID‐19 management measures in Europe. The variety of exceptional measures adopted in countries characterized by different legal systems and natural languages, as well as the rapid evolution of such measures, pose considerable challenges to manual textual analysis methods traditionally used in the social sciences. To address these challenges, we develop a supervised classifier to support the manual coding of exceptional policies by a multinational team of human coders. After presenting the results of various natural language processing (NLP) experiments, we show that human‐in‐the‐loop approaches to computational text analysis outperform unsupervised approaches in accurately extracting policy events from legal texts. We draw lessons from our experience to ensure the successful integration of NLP methods into social science research agendas.
Shallow‐marine calciclastic mass‐transport deposits in an evolving thrust‐top basin: A case study from the North Dalmatian foreland basin, Croatia
Authors: Gobo Katarina , Mrinjek Ervin , Ćosović Vlasta , Ramov Roko , Vlatković Karla
Published: October 2023

Mass‐transport deposits are products of resedimentation phenomena involving a broad spectrum of gravity‐driven processes, and commonly have a high preservation potential in deep‐marine environments. This study documents various types of mass‐transport deposits that are interbedded with intensely bioturbated shallow‐marine calciclastic sediments deposited along a reflective coast during the middle and late Eocene. The sedimentary succession, located in the vicinity of Novigrad in northern Dalmatia, Croatia, comprises sediments deposited in a range of nearshore and carbonate ramp environments, and represents the infill of a thrust‐top (piggyback) basin of the North Dalmatian foreland basin. Five types of mass‐transport deposits, ranging in thickness from 13 cm to 6 m, have been identified: (i) calcilutite and calcarenite slumps; (ii) conglomeratic slump‐debrites with a ‘dough‐like’ appearance; (iii) blocky‐flow deposits bearing large blocks of beachface and/or shoreface deposits; (iv) rockfall deposits comprising scattered blocks of beachface conglomerates and shoreface calcarenites; and (v) ‘classical’ matrix‐supported debrites. Calciturbidites are rare and mainly comprise Ta and Tb divisions. Conglomeratic slump‐debrites are mostly found in association with offshore‐transition deposits, suggesting that mass flows were triggered above the storm‐wave base likely due to a combined effect of: (i) strong earthquakes related to the tectonic development of the basin; (ii) sediment destabilization due to pore‐water overpressure during forced regressions; and (iii) storm‐wave loading affecting the shallow seabed. Progressive deepening likely favoured mass‐flow transformations, although the overall paucity of turbidites suggests relatively short mass‐flow transport distance and turbidity current bypass to deeper realms. Multiple erosion phases and resedimentation processes from the Cretaceous to the late Eocene contributed to the diverse suite of extraformational clasts in the mass‐transport deposits studied. The mass‐transport deposits may be triggered and emplaced in shallow‐marine settings mainly during regressive stages of basin development, as the diverse gravel clast composition suggests significant tectonic influence. Although the mass‐transport deposits reported herein are relatively small, some of their peculiar sedimentary features and occurrence within shallow‐marine calciclastic deposits render them rather unique and suitable for a re‐assessment of the nature and evolutionary continuum of processes involved in subaqueous sediment mass transport, as well as the preservation potential of sedimentary features in high‐energy wave‐reworked environments.
Hip and knee kinematics, center of pressure position, and ground reaction force are associated with Achilles tendon force during jump landing
Authors: Koshino Yuta , Ishida Tomoya , Taniguchi Shohei , Samukawa Mina , Kasahara Satoshi , Tohyama Harukazu
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Jump‐landing exercises are often performed during the rehabilitation of Achilles tendon (AT) injuries. However, the factors that affect the AT force (ATF) during landing are unclear. This study aimed to determine the kinematics and ground reaction force (GRF) variables associated with the peak ATF during a drop vertical jump (DVJ).

Methods

The landing phase of DVJ was evaluated in 101 healthy participants (46 males, age: 21.2 ± 1.4 years old) using a three‐dimensional motion analysis system with two force plates. ATF was estimated from the ankle flexion angle and moment. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed with the peak ATF as the dependent variable. The vertical GRF (VGRF), center of pressure (COP), forward trunk leaning, hip/knee/ankle joint angles at peak ATF, and sex were used as independent variables.

Results

In the univariate regression analysis, larger VGRF (β = 0.813), more anterior COP position (β = 0.214), smaller knee flexion (β = −0.251) and adduction (β = −0.252), smaller hip flexion (β = −0.407), smaller forward trunk lean (β = −0.492), and male sex (β = −0.282) were significantly associated with a larger peak ATF. Multivariate analysis revealed that larger VGRF (β = 1.018), more anterior COP position (β = 0.320), a larger knee (β = 0.442), and smaller hip flexion (β = −0.205) were associated with the larger peak ATF.

Conclusions

The VGRF, COP position, and knee and hip flexion were independently associated with ATF. Modifying these factors may be useful in managing tendon loading during jump‐landing exercises.
Some Trade‐Offs of Publishing Trade Books as a Sociologist1
Authors: Timmermans Stefan
Published: October 2023

I offer reflections on the late Charles Bosk's book proposal as a trade book, focusing specifically on different genres in nonfiction trade publishing, and the different approaches to evidence in sociology and journalism.
African firms in global value chains: What can we learn from firm‐level data in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire?
Authors: Coulibaly Romaric , Moreno Heddie , Suwa‐Eisenmann Akiko , Traore Nouhoum
Published: October 2023

The paper offers a detailed review of African firms' participation to international value chains and provides new quantitative insights on two countries, Cameroon and Ivory Coast, based on a unique dataset, which was obtained by merging firm census and detailed customs transactions over time. “GVC firms” are defined as firms that both export and import, with positive production and labour. The paper characterises GVC firms in the two countries. GVC firms represent about 15% of manufacturing firms; they are more frequent than pure exporters, a sign of the challenges faced by firms in those countries if they want to sell abroad. In line with the literature on firm heterogeneity and trade, firms engaged in GVCs are larger, more productive and live longer than one‐way‐traders or domestic firms. African markets are the main destination of manufacturing GVCs in Ivory Coast, while Cameroon GVC firms rely on OECD (including for agricultural exports). There is limited cross‐penetration between African‐oriented and OECD‐oriented GVC firms over time. The probability of moving into a GVC is higher for exporters than for importers, showing that exporting is a stepping stone for African firms to join a GVC.
Digital Humanities and Game Ethics: Investigating the Impact of Representation in Gaming
Authors: E Edhaya Chandran , S Gnana Sanga Mithra
Published: October 2023

“Digital humanities” is about the usage of computer-assisted tools to preserve knowledge and disseminate them through technological resources. An extension of these techniques can be seen in today’s hyper realistic games with high-concept storytelling. These games immerse the players in a world that enables them to experience a different reality and often ask them to make choices that have real-life social impact. They have empowered artists to create worlds that could become a testing ground for philosophical theories. This paper concentrates on the impact of gaming on real-world ethical and political questions. This paper primarily focuses on the impact of The Last of Us Part II- an action-adventure game developed by Naughty dog- on the discussion of the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters on already existing IP (Intellectual Property). The response that the game received among the players can be used to understand the general perspective of these elite communities on LGBTQ+ issues. This paper also includes the positive impact of such inclusion and argues that the diversification of characters in already existing IP substantially contributes to inclusivity and equality.
Reinforcement Learning Based Aircraft Controller Enhanced By Gaussian Process Trim Finding
Authors: Benyamen Hady , Chowdhury Mozammal , Keshmiri Shawn
Published: October 2023

This work presents mathematical and practical frameworks for designing deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) flight controllers for fixed-wing aircraft. The aim is to design reinforcement learning (RL) flight controllers and accelerate training by substituting the six degrees-of-freedom aircraft models with linear time-invariant (LTI) dynamic models. The initial validation flight tests of the DDPG RL flight controller exhibited poor performance. Post-flight test investigation revealed that the unsatisfactory performance of the RL flight controller could be attributed to the high reliance of the LTI model on accurate control trim values and the substantial errors observed in the predicted trim values generated by the engineering-level dynamic analysis software. A complementary real-time learning Gaussian process (GP) regression was designed to mitigate this critical shortcoming of the LTI-based RL flight controller. The GP estimates and updates the trim control surfaces using observed flight data. The GP regression method incorporates real-time corrections to the trim control surfaces to enhance the performance of the flight controller. Flight test validation was repeated, and the results show that the RL controller, bolstered by the GP trim-finding algorithm, can successfully control the aircraft with excellent tracking performance.
Deep Learning for Continuous-Time Leader Synchronization in Graphical Games Using Sampling and Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Zhang Da , Anwar Junaid , Rizvi Syed Ali Asad , Wei Yusheng
Published: October 2023

We propose a novel deep learning-based approach for the problem of continuous-time leader synchronization in graphical games on large networks. The problem setup is to deploy a distributed and coordinated swarm to track the trajectory of a leader while minimizing local neighborhood tracking error and control costs for each agent. The goal of our work is to develop optimal control policies for continuous-time leader synchronization in graphical games using deep neural networks. We discretize the agents model using sampling to facilitate the modification of gradient descent methods for learning optimal control policies. The distributed swarm is deployed for a certain amount of time while keeping the control input of each agent constant during each sampling period. After collecting state and input data at each sampling time during one iteration, we update the weights of a deep neural network for each agent using collected data to minimize a loss function that characterizes the agents' local neighborhood tracking error and the control cost. A modified gradient descent method is presented to overcome existing limitations. The performance of the proposed method is compared with two reinforcement learning-based methods in terms of robustness to initial neural network weights and initial local neighborhood tracking errors and the scalability to networks with a large number of agents. Our approach has been shown to achieve superior performance compared with the other two methods.
Supercapacitors Based on Spider Nest–Shaped Nickel Foam Electrodes Operating in Seawater
Authors: Li Haiying , Hui Yuchen , Xia Zunbin , Wang Huixin
Published: October 2023

An environmental-friendly supercapacitor based on aqueous electrolyte was fabricated. Electrodes with conductive spider nest–shaped three-dimensional (3D) porous structures were prepared for the assembly of symmetric supercapacitors. The nickel foam was modified by multiwalled carbon nanotubes and β-cyclodextrin. The construction of the spider nest was stabilized via the chemical bond inside carbon nanotubes, π–π stack effects among carbon nanotubes, and physical adsorption between nickel foam and carbon nanotubes substrate. The role of β-cyclodextrin is a dispersant to prevent agglomeration of carbon nanotubes, thereby enhancing electroactive surface area of nickel foam and improving the specific capacitance of the electrodes. Furthermore, the electrodes exhibited excellent rate capability. The obtained symmetrical supercapacitors exhibited an excellent power density of 17,561.3 W kg−1, a good specific capacitance of 398.8 F g−1, and an energy density of 154.8 Wh kg−1 for 4000 cycles with outstanding cycling stability. In addition, the specific capacitance, energy density, and power density of the supercapacitor operating in seawater were found to be 100.2 F g−1, 17.8 Wh kg−1, and 2568 Wh kg−1, respectively, for 3000 cycles. Overall, our findings indicate that the supercapacitor could stably operate in seawater and shows potential for use as an ecofriendly power supply to marine engineering equipment.