bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the field of institutional research: Toward more equitable practices
Authors: Felix Eric R. , Ceballos Diego A. , Salazar Rogelio , Vedar Erin Nicole R. , Perez Elizabeth Jimenez
Published: February 2022

As improving equity becomes prioritized in higher education, Offices of Institutional Research (OIRs) find themselves in a central position to identify and address educational inequities faced by racially minoritized students. However, their potential to serve as a catalyst for organizational change has yet to be fulfilled. In this study, we present a critical discourse analysis of mission statements to understand how these OIRs describe their function and purpose in the California Community Colleges system. Results are based on 108 reviewed statements. These results reveal a limited discourse around race and equity. None of the statements in our sample included the word race or any words stemming from it such as racism or racial disparity. The majority (86%) of statements omitted equity from their purpose, failing to describe how OIRs can serve to improve equitable outcomes in community college. Our work prompts the field to reimagine their role within the community college they serve by becoming race‐conscious and equity‐minded in the ways they articulate their role and function as major hubs of institutional data.
Developing and implementing an institutional research office diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plan
Authors: Hansen Michele J. , Keith Caleb J. , Mzumara Howard R. , Graunke Steven
Published: February 2022

This article describes how a large Institutional Research and Decision Support (IRDS) office engaged in efforts to promote culturally responsive and inclusive institutional research (IR) practices that take into account the increasingly diverse student, faculty, and staff populations we serve. We describe how we developed a diversity, equity and inclusion (D.E.I.) strategic plan that addressed the following: (a) ensuring our Mission Statement reflects our commitment to diversity; (b) applying an equity lens to our work; (c) supporting campus‐wide D.E.I. efforts while helping the campus live out a commitment to D.E.I.; (d) implementing internal office practices to support the recruitment and retention of a diverse team; and (e) ensuring IR professionals have access to and opportunities to learn about current trends in equity and inclusion. Our approach was guided by Kendi's conceptualization of antiracism, and we examine how we have opportunities to make antiracist decisions in various aspects of our work, including how we frame IR, analyze and label data, and interpret results given local contexts and structural inequities.
DRAINMOD simulation of drain spacing impact on canola yield in heavy clay soils in the Canadian prairies
Authors: Ndulue Emeka , Sri Ranjan Ramanathan
Published: February 2022

Excess moisture within the root zone due to the shallow water table is a leading cause of crop loss in Manitoba. In this study, the ability of the DRAINMOD model to predict water table depth (WTD) in clayey soil was evaluated using measured field data from the 2019 and 2020 canola‐growing seasons in Arborg, Manitoba, Canada. Statistical analysis and graphical plots showed close agreement between the measured and simulated WTD with an overall coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), mean average error (MAE) and mean bias error (MBE) of 0.93, 9.84 cm, 7.06 cm and −0.13 cm, respectively. Since the model simulation was deemed satisfactory, the model was run with 30‐year historical climate data to assess the impacts of different drain spacing on canola yield. Simulation results showed that the average surface runoff increased while average drainage and relative canola yield decreased as drain spacing increased. The simulation results suggest that long‐term average yield would be maximized by close drain spacing ≤ 15 m. Economic analysis showed that 10 m drain spacing would maximize the return on investment. The need for long‐term simulations to develop appropriate site‐specific water management strategies is demonstrated.
Assessing a programmatic approach for the control of quinclorac‐resistant smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum) in established bermudagrass turf
Authors: Putri Atikah D. , de Castro Edicarlos , Wilber Amy L. , McCurdy James D.
Published: February 2022

The auxin‐mimicking herbicide quinclorac controls crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) after emergence in cool‐ and warm‐season turfgrass species. Quinclorac resistance has been confirmed in smooth [Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb.) Muhl.] and large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.]. Two Mississippi smooth crabgrass populations have been confirmed as quinclorac‐resistant. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate programmatic approaches to control one of these populations. Treatments included the sequential application of pre‐emergence herbicides on 17 Feb. and 10 Apr. 2020, and 25 Feb. and 6 Apr. 2021, alone or with 0.84 kg quinclorac ha–1 applied postemergence on 10 April 2020 and 6 April 2021, then a second application of quinclorac alone on 18 June 2020 and 16 June 2021. Pre‐emergence treatments included 0.05 kg indaziflam ha–1, 0.84 kg prodiamine ha–1, 0.56 kg dithiopyr ha–1, and 0.47 kg prodiamine ha–1 + 0.21 kg imazaquin ha–1 + 0.73 kg simazine ha–1. Commercial standards applied on 10 Apr. and 18 June 2020, and 6 Apr. and 16 June 2021 included 0.16 kg pinoxaden ha–1 and 2.27 kg monosodium methanearsonate ha–1. Four weeks after the last application, all treatments except quinclorac (2020 and 2021), dithiopyr (2020), and pinoxaden (2020) controlled quinclorac‐resistant smooth crabgrass by >90%. Various standard pre‐emergence herbicides adequately controlled the resistant population. Quinclorac combined with pre‐emergence strategies provided greater control of smooth crabgrass than quinclorac alone. Ongoing research is investigating the mechanism of quinclorac resistance. Future research should screen a wider distribution of populations and investigate cross‐ and multiple resistance.
The Mineralization Regulator ANKH Mediates Cellular Efflux of ATP, Not Pyrophosphate
Authors: Szeri Flora , Niaziorimi Fatemeh , Donnelly Sylvia , Fariha Nishat , Tertyshnaia Mariia , Patel Drithi , Lundkvist Stefan , van de Wetering Koen
Published: February 2022

The plasma membrane protein ankylosis homologue (ANKH, mouse ortholog: Ank) prevents pathological mineralization of joints by controlling extracellular levels of the mineralization inhibitor pyrophosphate (PPi). It was long thought that ANKH acts by transporting PPi into the joints. We recently showed that when overproduced in HEK293 cells, ANKH mediates release of large amounts of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs), predominantly ATP, into the culture medium. ATP is converted extracellularly into PPi and AMP by the ectoenzyme ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1). We could not rule out, however, that cells also release PPi directly via ANKH. We now addressed the question of whether PPi leaves cells via ANKH using HEK293 cells that completely lack ENPP1. Introduction of ANKH in these ENPP1-deficient HEK293 cells resulted in robust cellular ATP release without the concomitant increase in extracellular PPi found in ENPP1-proficient cells. Ank activity was previously shown to be responsible for about 75% of the PPi found in mouse bones. However, bones of Enpp1−/− mice contained <2.5% of the PPi found in bones of wild-type mice, showing that Enpp1 activity is also a prerequisite for Ank-dependent PPi incorporation into the mineralized bone matrix in vivo. Hence, ATP release precedes ENPP1-mediated PPi formation. We find that ANKH also provides about 25% of plasma PPi, whereas we have previously shown that 60% to 70% of plasma PPi is derived from the NTPs extruded by the ABC transporter, ABCC6. Both transporters that keep plasma PPi at sufficient levels to prevent pathological calcification therefore do so by extruding NTPs rather than PPi itself. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
What makes people happy? Decoupling the experiential‐material continuum
Authors: Weingarten Evan , Duke Kristen , Liu Wendy , Hamilton Rebecca W. , Amir On , Appel Gil , Cerf Moran , Goodman Joseph K. , Morales Andrea C. , O’Brien Ed , Quoidbach Jordi , Sun Monic
Published: February 2022

Extant literature suggests that consumers derive more happiness from experiences (e.g., vacations) than from material possessions (e.g., furniture). However, this literature typically pits material against experiential consumption, treating them as a single bipolar construct of their relative dominance: more material or more experiential. This focus on relative dominance leaves unanswered questions regarding how different levels of material and experiential qualities each contribute to happiness. Four preregistered studies (N = 3,288), using hundreds of product categories, measured levels of material and experiential qualities using two unipolar items. These studies investigate recalled, evoked, and anticipated happiness. Results show a more nuanced view of the experiential advantage that is critical for future research and consumer theory: material and experiential qualities both have positive relationships with happiness. Further, there is no inherent trade‐off between experiential and material qualities: consumers can enjoy consumption that is high on both (e.g., swimming pools and home improvements).
Conversion of dimethyl ether to liquid hydrocarbons over the nano‐Pd‐ZnHZSM‐5 catalyst obtained by laser electrodispersion of the metal
Authors: Matieva Zareta M. , Nikolaev Sergey A. , Snatenkova Yulia M. , Gurevich Sergey A. , Yavsin Denis A. , Ezzhelenko Darya I. , Kolesnichenko Natalia V.
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Palladium particles with a size of 2 nm were obtained by laser electrodispersion (LED) and used to prepare the Pd‐ZnHZSM‐5(LED) catalyst (Pd = 0.0005 wt%). The deposition of the LED palladium particles on the surface of ZnHZSM‐5 provided a high dimethyl ether (DME) conversion into liquid hydrocarbons; the percentage of the unreacted intermediate (methanol) decreased by an order of magnitude and the selectivity for i‐alkanes increased (more than 80 wt%). The Pd‐ZnНZSM‐5(LED) catalyst showed higher activity and selectivity than the traditional Pd‐ZnНZSM‐5 catalyst (impregnation).

RESULTS

The features of the catalytic action of Pd‐ZnHZSM‐5(LED) are associated with the high density of nanosized Pd0 and Pd2+ phases on the ZnHZSM‐5 surface. The LED particles are immersed in the surface of the zeolite to a maximum depth of 0.5 nm and do not penetrate deep into the pores of the zeolite. In Pd‐ZnНZSM‐5(LED), the zinc sites and palladium sites are separate. On Brønsted acid sites and zinc sites in the micropores of the zeolite occure target reactions. Part of arenes and unreacted alkenes exit the pores of zeolite are hydrogenated on the palladium. The product obtained on Pd‐ZnHZSM‐5(LED) is characterized by a high content of i‐alkanes (more than 80 wt%) and a low content of arenes (no more than 5 wt%).

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate the high promise of the LED method for the preparation of high‐performance catalysts with ultra‐low content of noble metal for conversion of oxygenates to synthetic liquid hydrocarbons with a high yield of i‐alkanes and low yield of arenes. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
State of the field: A comparative analysis of international development studies majors in Canada, the United Kingdom and United States
Authors: Cohen Elisheva , Macekura Stephen
Published: February 2022

Through a critical analysis of undergraduate Development Studies (DS) majors, this study examines the ways that DS departments construct the discipline and contribute to the production of knowledge in the field. By comparing curricular requirements of DS majors at 56 universities, this paper illuminates priorities of DS as identified through teaching. We find that most DS majors have an interdisciplinary focus, require courses in economics and research methods and offer experiential learning opportunities. Limited attention, however, is given to regional or thematic specialisations and second language learning pointing to further work needed towards decolonizing DS curricula.
Intracranial Blood Flow Quantification by Accelerated Dual‐venc4D Flow MRI: Comparison With Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound
Authors: Mahinrad Simin , Tan Can Ozan , Ma Yue , Aristova Maria , Milstead Andrew L. , Lloyd‐Jones Donald , Schnell Susanne , Markl Michael , Sorond Farzaneh A.
Published: February 2022

Background

Dual‐venc 4D flow MRI, recently introduced for the assessment of intracranial hemodynamics, may provide a promising complementary approach to well‐established tools such as transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) and overcome some of their disadvantages. However, data comparing intracranial flow measures from dual‐venc 4D flow MRI and TCD are lacking.

Purpose

To compare cerebral blood flow velocity measures derived from dual‐venc 4D flow MRI and TCD.

Study Type

Prospective cohort.

Subjects

A total of 25 healthy participants (56 ± 4 years old, 44% female).

Field Strength/Sequence

A 3 T/dual‐venc 4D flow MRI using a time‐resolved three‐dimensional phase‐contrast sequence with three‐dimensional velocity encoding.

Assessment

Peak velocity measurements in bilateral middle cerebral arteries (MCA) were quantified from dual‐venc 4D flow MRI and TCD. The MRI data were quantified by two independent observers (S.M and Y.M.) and TCD was performed by a trained technician (A.L.M.). We assessed the agreement between 4D flow MRI and TCD measures, and the interobserver agreement of 4D flow MRI measurements.

Statistical Tests

Peak velocity from MRI and TCD was compared using Bland–Altman analysis and coefficient of variance. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess MRI interobserver agreement. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

There was excellent interobserver agreement in dual‐venc 4D flow MRI‐based measurements of peak velocity in bilateral MCA (ICC = 0.97 and 0.96 for the left and right MCA, respectively). Dual‐venc 4D flow MRI significantly underestimated peak velocity in the left and right MCA compared to TCD (bias = 0.13 [0.59, −0.33] m/sec and 0.15 [0.47, −0.17] m/sec, respectively). The coefficient of variance between dual‐venc 4D flow MRI and TCD measurements was 26% for the left MCA and 22% for the right MCA.

Data Conclusion

There was excellent interobserver agreement for the assessment of MCA peak velocity using dual‐venc 4D flow MRI, and ≤20% under‐estimation compared with TCD.

Evidence Level

3

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Perceived risk and sensitivity and their influence on expatriate performance during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Sahoo Ankita , Xechung Nelvin Leow , Mostafiz Md. Imtiaz , Krishnaswamy Jayaraman
Published: February 2022

The COVID 19 pandemic has changed the way that global businesses function, and has been the driving force behind a reevaluation of the factors that influence expatriate performance. This study empirically examines the mediating effects of perceived risk and sensitivity in the relationship between self‐initiated expatriates support mechanisms (perceived organizational support and host‐country national support) and expatriate performance during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The data from 114 expatriates working and residing in Malaysia between March 27 and May 14, 2020 was analyzed using structural equation modelling. The results from the study indicate that host country national support significantly influences expatriate performance indirectly through expatriate engagement, while perceived risk and sensitivity moderate the relationship between perceived organizational support and host country national support through expatriate engagement. The integration of factors that influence work performance during a pandemic, such as perceived risk and sensitivity, leads to a more concise view of expatriation. Organizations need to be more prepared in terms of risk induced scenarios, and propose suitable intervention programs to mitigate the potential negative outcomes due to a pandemic.
CERS6‐AS1 contributes to the malignant phenotypes of colorectal cancer cells by interacting with miR‐15b‐5p to regulate SPTBN2
Authors: Zhao Shi‐Yu , Wang Zhi , Wu Xiang‐Bai , Zhang Shuai , Chen Qiao , Wang Dong‐Dong , Tan Qiong‐Feng
Published: February 2022

Accumulating evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as tumor promoters or suppressors in various types of cancer. Previous investigations suggest that ceramide synthase 6 (CERS6) antisense RNA 1 (CERS6‐AS1) acts as an oncogene in breast cancer; however, its role in colorectal cancer is unknown. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of CERS6‐AS1 in colorectal cancer. Gene expression in colorectal cancer was examined using reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. The viability and proliferation of colorectal cancer cells were measured by Cell Counting Kit‐8 assays and colony formation assays. The migratory and invasive capacities of the colorectal cancer cells were assessed by Transwell assay. Cell stemness was examined by sphere‐formation assay. Mechanistically, RNA pull‐down assays, RNA immunoprecipitation assays, and luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore the relationship among CERS6‐AS1, miR‐15b‐5p and spectrin beta, non‐erythrocytic 2 (SPTBN2). Moreover, a xenograft tumor model was established to investigate the role of CERS6‐AS1 in vivo. We found that CERS6‐AS1 and SPTBN2 were highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues and cells. CERS6‐AS1 depletion inhibited cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion; the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition process and stemness. It suppressed xenograft tumor growth in colorectal cancer. Moreover, SPTBN2 levels were positively regulated by CERS6‐AS1 and negatively regulated by miR‐15b‐5p in colorectal cancer cells. Rescue assays revealed that SPTBN2 reversed the inhibitory effect of CERS6‐AS1 deficiency on the malignant behaviors of colorectal cancer cells. Overall, the lncRNA CERS6‐AS1 facilitates malignant phenotypes of colorectal cancer cells by targeting miR‐15b‐5p to upregulate SPTBN2.
Effect of Fe/Mn content on mechanical and corrosion properties of 90/10 copper–nickel alloy
Authors: Shao Guosen , Gao Yuhang , Wu Jiayan , Liu Ping , Zhang Ke , Li Wei , Ma Fengcang , Zhou Honglei , Chen Xiaohong
Published: February 2022

The effect of Fe/Mn content on the metallographic structure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of 90/10 copper–nickel alloy using electrochemical methods, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Tafel experiments, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were investigated in this paper. The experimental results indicated that the tensile strength of the alloys increases from 326 to 347 MPa with the change of Fe/Mn content, the yield strength of 90/10 copper–nickel alloys is approximately 150 MPa, and the elongation of the alloys was reduced from 51% to 37%. Moreover, as corrosion proceeds, the corrosion product film was mainly composed of Cu2O, Cu2(OH)3Cl. In addition, the Cu–10Ni alloy with Fe/Mn content of 1.69/0.69 has good corrosion resistance properties.
Influence of hydrogel coatings on corrosion and fatigue of iron in simulated body fluid
Authors: Huang Jingyuan , Voigt Markus , Wackenrohr Steffen , Ebbert Christoph , Keller Adrian , Maier Hans Jürgen , Grundmeier Guido
Published: February 2022

Surface corrosion and fatigue studies of pure iron were performed in a modified simulated body fluid (m‐SBF) electrolyte with and without applied agar films as a typical hydrogel film. The electrochemical corrosion rates were analysed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The morphology and surface chemical composition of the samples after exposure were analysed using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman microscopy. The swelling process of the agar film was measured by in situ fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection. The combination of the electrochemical and interface analytical approaches allowed for the estimation of the influence of an applied agar film on the corrosion processes. Moreover, the studies clearly reveal a correlation between the surface corrosion process and the fatigue life of the iron samples in m‐SBF.
Lessons from the Chicago Teachers' Strike
Authors: Wich Scott
Published: February 2022

Not so long ago if you heard the words “Chicago” and “strike” together you might have imagined grainy black‐and‐white photos of blue collar workers striking to protest some form of unfair or oppressive working conditions. Fast forward to the 21st century: Today's images of strikes in Chicago are of highly educated white collar workers—school teachers walking picket lines in the middle of winter. Times are changing.
Allocation of portfolio risk and outside options
Authors: Hiller Tobias
Published: February 2022

In this note, we outline the application of coalition structure games to the distribution of portfolio risk across individual assets in a portfolio. In the existing literature, there is no risk measure that takes into account both — the contributions of individual assets to portfolio risk and the contributions to the risk of the stock market as a whole. We show the application by means of a simulation study as an example. In this context, it can be shown that the approach contributes to the solution of the so‐called low‐risk puzzle.
Intercomparison of atmospheric forcing datasets and twoPBLschemes for precipitation modelling over a coastal valley in northern British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Onwukwe Chibuike , Jackson Peter L. , Déry Stephen J.
Published: February 2022

Environmental modelling of remote areas requires dynamical downscaling of meteorological data to obtain precipitation values that could substitute for sparse in‐situ observations. This study examined numerical simulations of precipitation over the Terrace‐Kitimat Valley, an industrializing corridor in the Coast Mountains of northern British Columbia, Canada. Modelling uncertainty was explored for 1 year of output from the Weather Research and Forecasting model at 1‐km grid spacing for three atmospheric forcing datasets and two planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes. The observed total precipitation ranged from 1170 to 2380 mm and was often underestimated by more than 40% when using the North American Regional Reanalysis as atmospheric forcing data or the Mellor‐Yamada‐Nakanishi‐Niino level 3 (MYNN3) parameterization as PBL scheme. Persistent low bias from model configurations using these configurations suggested that merely selecting an alternative atmospheric forcing dataset does not ameliorate systematic error occasioned by a poorly performing PBL parameterization. Hence, the choice of the PBL scheme and the meteorological dataset is important for spatial estimation of precipitation using WRF. Model output best corresponded with annual gauge measurements when simulations with the Mellor‐Yamada‐Janjić (MYJ) PBL scheme were forced with ERA5. The North American Mesoscale Analyses (NAM‐ANL) however demonstrated better performance for monthly variation and high‐intensity precipitation than ERA5. Using both datasets therefore may be valuable for calculations related to environmental change. With either NAM‐ANL or ERA5 as atmospheric forcing data and MYJ as the PBL scheme, the uncertainty in annual simulated precipitation amount ranged between 38% overestimation and 21% underestimation of observational data.
The application of sub‐seasonal to seasonal (S2S) predictions for hydropower forecasting
Authors: Graham Robert M. , Browell Jethro , Bertram Douglas , White Christopher J.
Published: February 2022

Inflow forecasts play an integral role in the management and operations of hydropower reservoirs. In Scotland, the horizon of inflow forecasts is limited in range to approximately 2 weeks ahead. Additional forecast information in the sub‐seasonal to seasonal (S2S) range would allow operators to take proactive action to mitigate weather‐related risks, thereby improving water management and increasing revenue. The aim of this study is to develop methods of deriving skilful S2S probabilistic inflow forecasts for hydropower reservoirs in Scotland, without the application of a hydrological model. We forecast inflow for a case study reservoir using a linear regression model, trained on historical S2S precipitation predictions and observed inflow rates. Ensemble inflow forecasts generated from the regression model are post‐processed using Ensemble Model Output Statistics, to create calibrated S2S probabilistic forecasts. We evaluate forecast skill for 11 different horizons, using inflow observations. Probabilistic forecasts of weekly average inflow rates hold fair skill relative to climatology up to 6 weeks ahead (fCRPSS = 0.01). Forecasts of 28‐day average inflow rates hold good skill (fCRPSS = 0.19). The S2S probabilistic inflow forecasts are most skilful during winter, when there is greatest risk of reservoirs spilling. Forecasts struggle to predict high summer inflows even at short lead times. The potential for the S2S probabilistic inflow forecasts to improve water management and deliver increased economic value is explored using a stylized cost model. While applied to hydropower forecasting, the results and methods presented here are relevant to broader fields of water management and S2S forecasting applications.
High‐efficiency wideband Doherty power amplifier based on two‐point impedance‐matching circuits
Authors: Song Kaijun , Zhu Zibo , Li Qian , Fan Yong
Published: February 2022

A novel wideband Doherty power amplifier with high‐drain efficiency is proposed in this paper. The triode CGH40010F is adopted in carrier amplifier and peak amplifier to realize the power amplification, respectively. The wide bandwidth is achieved by using the two‐point impedance matching circuit, which can be applied to achieve good matching of peak output power point and power back‐off point at the same time. The drain efficiency at peak output power point is greater than 55.8% and the maximum drain efficiency is 71.3%, while the peak output power is greater than 43.2 dBm (with an error of ±0.7 dBm) from 1.8 to 2.8 GHz. The drain efficiency at 6 dB power back‐off point is greater than 45.1% and the maximum drain efficiency is 63.2%.
Numerical simulation and analysis of dual base transistor laser
Authors: Ranjith Ramakrishnan , Piramasubramanian Shanmugasundaram , Ganesh Madhan Muthu
Published: February 2022

In this work, characteristics of dual base transistor laser are numerically analyzed for the first time. Active base region of the transistor laser is split into two unequal regions composing of shorter and longer sections, which are biased separately. Static characteristics of transistor laser are evaluated using a rate equation model, which reveals switching action in output optical power for a longer section base current of 9.2 mA with unpumped shorter section. Hysteresis behavior in the optical output is observed for the longer section input current till 1.6 mA. Optical bistable characteristics are studied for various values of gain (longer) and absorber (shorter) section currents. Further slope efficiency is evaluated using P‐I characteristics, before the onset of bistability, for gain lever features under common emitter (CE) configuration. A maximum gain lever of 4.5 dB is observed with the longer section bias current of 1.3 mA.
Intravenous vitamin C use and risk of severity and mortality in COVID‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ao Guangyu , Li Jing , Yuan Yang , Wang Yushu , Nasr Basma , Bao Mulong , Gao Ming , Qi Xin
Published: February 2022

The administration of intravenous vitamin C (IV‐VC) in treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is still highly controversial. There have been no previous studies on the effect of IV‐VC on the severity and mortality of COVID‐19. Hence, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to compare the disease severity and mortality in patients with COVID‐19 who promptly received IV‐VC treatment vs those who did not.

We performed a comprehensive systematic search of seven health science databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data, up to June 23, 2021. We identified a total of seven related articles, which were included in this study.

This meta‐analysis showed that IV‐VC treatment did not affect disease severity compared with placebo treatment or usual care (odds ratio [OR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.45 to 1.07; P = 0.10). In addition, no statistically significant difference in mortality was observed between patients who received IV‐VC treatment and those who did not (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.41 to 1.00; P = 0.05). Moreover, the adjusted meta‐analysis revealed that the use of IV‐VC did not influence disease severity (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.34 to 1.31; P = 0.242) or mortality (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.40; P = 0.877) in comparison with a control group.

The results of this meta‐analysis demonstrated that short‐term IV‐VC treatment did not reduce the risk of severity and mortality in patients with COVID‐19.
Development of a polyvinyl alcohol/sodium polyacrylate composite polymer membrane with cesium carbonate as a mobile carrier for high‐performance CO2 capture
Authors: Ito Fuminori , Sugimoto Rie , Mori Misato , Yamada Hidetaka
Published: February 2022

Composite polymer membranes were prepared using carbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, an acrylic acid polymer partial sodium salt cross‐linked product, and sodium polyacrylate. In this study, the factors for further improving the separation performance of these membranes for the CO2/He mixed gas were investigated. It was confirmed that the prepared membranes did not provide stable separation under pressure unless they had a thickness of 2.0 μm. Moreover, they could not function as high‐performance separation membranes without a carbonate additive; the optimal carbonate concentration range was determined by considering the effect of the total pressure. As a result, this work produced a high‐performance, CO2 selective permeable membrane with selectivities of more than 500 and 150 at 0.1 and 0.7 MPa, respectively, for the separation of a CO2/He (80/20) gas mixture at 85°C.
QScout: A QGIS plugin tool suite for georeferencing and analysis of field‐scouted and remote sensing data
Authors: Evans Joshua R. , Romero Galvan Fernando E. , Kanaley Kathleen , Cadle‐Davidson Lance , Gold Kaitlin M.
Published: February 2022

Field scouting is an important part of many research methodologies in plant pathology and plant phenomics. However, linking scouting data to field imagery is often hampered by the time‐consuming task of georeferencing with a GIS. Here, we present the QScout tool suite for integrating remote sensing imagery and raster data with field‐scouting data in QGIS, an open‐source GIS program. The central features of QScout are the Drop Pins and Locate Pins plugins, allowing the user to easily link scouted data to remote sensing imagery. QScout also includes the Value Grabber and Grid Aggregator plugins, which transfer raster data into pins and aggregate the data from the pins into a grid, respectively. The final tools, Drop, Grab, and Aggregate and Locate, Grab, and Aggregate, are plugins that combine subsets of the four core plugins. The interface allows GIS users to effectively make use of field‐scouted observations with remote imagery and can improve data organization, analysis, and identification of locations of interest for further scouting or targeted management. QScout is publicly available as a GitHub repository: (https://github.com/GoldLabGrapeSPEC/QScout).
Alternative to animal experimentation in pharmacology teaching: Development and validation of an equivalent digital learning tool
Authors: Lawson Roland , Leymarie Sophie , Nikitopoulos Claire , Humeau Antoine , Bouchenaki Hichem , Duroux Jean‐Luc , Fourcade Laurent , Karam Sandrine , Picard Nicolas , Demiot Claire
Published: February 2022

Regarding animal experiments in pharmacology teaching, ethical considerations led us to examine an alternative approach to the use of living animals. This study aimed to assess whether digital tools could replace live animal experiments in terms of motivation and knowledge acquisition. The study was carried out with students enrolled in the 5th year of the industry/research stream at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Limoges. The participants were randomly assigned to groups of traditional or digital teaching methods, with the common theme of the class being the effect of a diuretic agent (furosemide) in rats. The scenario and learning objectives were identical for the two groups. Before the class and after randomization, the acceptance of the digital educational material was assessed with a scale, which predicts the acceptability of users according to individual dimensions and social representations, followed by the assessment of the motivation by a situational motivation scale (SIMS) for both groups. After the class, the students’ motivation was assessed by a questionnaire based on Deci and Ryan's self‐determination theory. In the end, the participants were evaluated for homogeneity, based on general knowledge of renal pharmacology, and for knowledge acquisition concerning specific knowledge related to this teaching session. This study revealed a good acceptance of the digital tool and a good motivation toward the digital method among all the students. It found the two teaching methods (digital and traditional) to be equivalent in terms of motivation and knowledge acquisition. In our study, digital pedagogical tools as an alternative to live animals did not affect students’ motivation and knowledge acquisition.
Assessing the impacts of formal and informal regulations on ecological footprint
Authors: Lee Chien‐Chiang , Chen Mei‐Ping , Xu Wei
Published: February 2022

This research applies the method of moments quantile regression (MQR) to probe the effects of formal (market and nonmarket) and informal environmental regulations ([ERs] education [EDU] and green technology [TEC]) on the six components of ecological footprint (EF). We investigate whether ERs are feasible tools for lessening environmental degradation by examining the ER‐induced environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Results reveal that the nonmarket‐based ER‐induced EKC hypotheses are generally supported for carbon, fish, and forest footprints, signifying that when the three EFs reach a specific threshold level the nonmarket‐based ER saliently helps to move toward an environmental‐friendly condition. Nonmarket‐based ER and EDU are most efficient in reducing grazing land. However, we show that ER increases carbon footprint consumption, and ER is not completely effective to solve environmental degradation. Our analysis affirms the usage of MQR estimates, suggesting that the six types of EFs exhibit a nonlinearly response with ER across EF quantiles. Specifically, the U‐shape links are present in the forest‐EDU and graze‐NMKT nexus in the subsample of developing countries, implying that the EKC hypothesis is not valid for developing country. Therefore, government should encourage different ERs to reduce different types of environmental degradation.
Characterization of Water Solubility and Binding of Spin Labeled Drugs in the Presence of Albumin Nanoparticles and Proteins by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Sozer Sumeyra C. , Akdogan Yasar
Published: February 2022

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is an advantageous technique to monitor solubility of drugs in an aqueous solution. In the presence of a drug carrier, the bound and unbound drug fractions can be determined in the same sample simultaneously. To enhance the solubility of hydrophobic drugs, a transporter protein of bovine serum albumin (BSA) can be used directly or in the form of nanoparticle. Moreover, a cationic BSA can be used to enhance anionic drug loading. Here, drugs with different water solubility, salicylic acid (high), ibuprofen (low) and chlorambucil (none) were spin labeled and studied with EPR spectroscopy. Remarkably, it has been shown that albumin nanoparticles are much more effective than albumin proteins in dissolving hydrophobic drugs in water. Furthermore, different drug loading methods were compared, and different from other techniques drug release can be monitored directly from the NPs pellet dissolution by EPR spectroscopy.
Intracellular Mutual Amplification of Oxidative Stress and Inhibition Multidrug Resistance for Enhanced Sonodynamic/Chemodynamic/Chemo Therapy
Authors: Guan Shaoqi , Liu Xijian , Li Chunlin , Wang Xingyan , Cao Dongmiao , Wang Jinxia , Lin Lizhou , Lu Jie , Deng Guoying , Hu Junqing
Published: February 2022

Emerging noninvasive treatments, such as sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT), have developed as promising alternatives or supplements to traditional chemotherapy. However, their therapeutic effects are limited by the hypoxic environment of tumors. Here, a biodegradable nanocomposite‐mesoporous zeolitic‐imidazolate‐framework@MnO2/doxorubicin hydrochloride (mZMD) is developed, which achieves enhanced SDT/CDT/chemotherapy through promoting oxidative stress and overcoming the multidrug resistance. The mZMD decomposes under both ultrasound (US) irradiation and specific reactions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The mZM composite structure reduces the recombination rate of e− and h+ to improve SDT. MnO2 not only oxidizes glutathione in tumor cells to enhance oxidative stress, but also converts the endogenic H2O2 into O2 to improve the hypoxic TME, which enhances the effects of chemotherapy/SDT. Meanwhile, the generated Mn2+ catalyzes the endogenic H2O2 into ·OH for CDT, and acts as magnetic resonance imaging agent to guide therapy. In addition, dissociated Zn2+ further breaks the redox balance of TME, and co‐inhibits the expression of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) with generated ROS to overcome drug resistance. Thus, the as‐prepared intelligent biodegradable mZMD provides an innovative strategy to enhance SDT/CDT/chemotherapy.
The operation and maintenance governance of microservices architecture systems: A systematic literature review
Authors: Wang Lu , Jiang Yu Xuan , Wang Zhan , Huo Qi En , Dai Jie , Xie Sheng Long , Li Rui , Feng Ming Tao , Xu Yue Shen , Jiang Zhi Ping
Published: February 2022

Due to its development agility, continuous delivery, scalability and other characteristics, the microservice architecture systems (MASs) have provided complex business functions to hundreds of millions of users in many application fields. The operation and maintenance governance for a large number of microservices with complex relationships is crucial to ensuring the stability and reliability of an MAS. Although this research field has received certain attention and produced some innovative results, there is a lack of systematic reviews covering the different aspects of it. In this context, the central objective of this study is to carry out a systematic literature review (SLR) in this field, in an attempt to review existing issues, discuss the main trends, and share the findings with the academia. As a result, we start from more than 500 scientific papers published from 2009 to 2021 and extract 144 most significant papers, identify that the main research directions of this field include load balancing, fault detection, and autoscaling. Subsequently, we provide a comprehensive description of these research directions, discuss them in particular detail. We also determine limitations of current work and discuss new directions worth exploring in the future. Consequently, the outcomes will assist professionals and experts in the industry as well as academic researchers to focus more on operation and maintenance governance of MASs and further improve the relevant methods and theoretical systems in this field.
Computational Optimizing the Electromagnetic Wave Reflectivity of Double‐Layered Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Wei Linfeng , Ma Jianzhong , Ma Li , Zhao Chongxiang , Xu Menglong , Qi Qing , Zhang Wenbo , Zhang Lei , He Xiang , Park Chul B.
Published: February 2022

Double‐layered absorption‐dominated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composites are highly desirable to prevent secondary electromagnetic wave pollution. However, it is a tremendous challenge to optimize the shielding performance via the trial‐and‐error method due to the low efficiency. Herein, a novel approach of computation‐aided experimental design is proposed to efficiently optimize the reflectivity of the double‐layered composites. A normalized input impedance (NII) method is presented to calculate the electromagnetic wave reflectivity of multilayered EMI shielding composites. The calculated results are a good match with the experimental results. Then, the NII method is utilized to design polyvinylidene difluoride/MXene/carbon nanotube (PVDF/MXene/CNT) composites. According to the optimization of the NII method, the prepared PVDF/MXene/CNT composite has an ultralow reflectivity of 0.000057, which outperforms that reported in current work and satisfies the requirement of electromagnetic wave absorbing material. Additionally, its average EMI shielding effectiveness is 30 dB, demonstrating that PVDF/MXene/CNT composite simultaneously achieves shielding and absorption. The ultralow reflection mechanism can be ascribed to the ideal impedance match. Both the PVDF/MXene and the PVDF/CNT layers can attenuate electromagnetic energy, which subverts the traditional cognition of double‐layered absorption‐dominated EMI shielding composites. The NII method opens a way for the practical fabrication of double‐layered absorption‐dominated EMI shielding composites.
Retracted: Predicting the compressive strength of modified recycled aggregate concrete
Authors: Yang Cuina , Feng Hongwei , Esmaeili‐Falak Mahzad
Published: February 2022

Reuse and recycling of construction wastes effectively prevent further destruction of the environment and nature due to the construction industry. One of the conventional methods is the reapplication of recycled aggregates (RAs) in concrete mix design and construction. Compressive strength (CS) is a considerable representation of the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). The present study is divided into two parts of experimental and predicting. In the laboratory studies phase, RA was used with 100% replacement. Due to the proven defects in RAC, glass fibers and silica fume (variables) have been used to compensate for these defects. Different mixing designs were used to construct concrete samples, and then the CS of each specimen was measured in the laboratory. Afterward, these data were used as training and testing in various conventional, ensembled and hybrid models as the tree‐based learning algorithms, rules, Lazy‐learning Algorithms, Functions, and Meta classifiers. Considering the applied performance statistical criteria (, root mean squared error, mean absolute error, and mean absolute percentage error), all models have provided excellent and acceptable results, which the precision of the multilayer perceptron single model and additive regression‐random Forest hybrid model have the best agreement with measured values of CS of RAC.
Exploring Trends in Abundance of Young‐of‐the‐Year and Age‐1 Atlantic Croaker, Black Drum, Spot, and Weakfish in Relation to Salinity, Temperature, and Large‐Scale Climatic Signals in a Mid‐Atlantic Estuary
Authors: Mathews Joseph A. , Hale Edward A. , Oleynik Haley A. , Clark John H. , Park Ian A. , Greco Michael J. , Petrone Christopher J.
Published: February 2022

Atlantic Croaker Micropogonias undulatus, Black Drum Pogonias cromis, Spot Leiostomus xanthurus, and Weakfish Cynoscion regalis have shown species‐specific, varying trends in abundance despite general declines in commercial landings throughout the Delaware River estuary. Identifying how environmental factors and climatic processes affect fishes at multiple life stages is needed to enhance the precision of regulatory actions for managed species. Species‐, area‐, and age‐specific indices were compared with depth, salinity, temperature, the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) to explore potential relationships as well as temporal and spatial parameters. Our results demonstrate that station (15 indices), salinity (14 indices), the AMO and NAO (13 indices each), and depth and temperature (12 indices each) served as important components for models of abundance for 17 species‐, age‐, and area‐specific combinations from 1991 to 2016. Significant time series trends were detected in six of the modeled indices of abundance, including baywide indices of age‐1 Weakfish (decline) and age‐0 Atlantic Croaker (increase); age‐0 Atlantic Croaker (increase) and Weakfish (decline) in Delaware; and age‐1 Spot (decline) and Weakfish (increase) in Delaware. Our results demonstrate how multiple fixed‐station surveys can be combined to quantitatively assess environmental and climatic effects correlated with species‐, age‐, and area‐specific levels of abundance, suggesting that climatic signals are affecting smaller‐scale environmental variables that in turn affect relative abundance.
The sustainability of multinational enterprises' pandemic‐induced social innovation approaches
Authors: Peerally Jahan Ara , De Fuentes Claudia , Santiago Fernando , Zhao Shasha
Published: February 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic has prompted an unprecedented reaction in several multinational enterprises (MNEs). These MNEs have adopted social innovation approaches to meet the needs of vulnerable societal groups by swiftly innovating their business models; drastically changing their product offerings and customer bases; and producing COVID‐19 necessities. These approaches have alleviated some key pandemic‐induced social challenges related to health and sanitation. In this perspective article, we use secondary sources of information to present and exemplify the various types of MNE pandemic‐induced social innovation approaches. We open the discussion on whether these approaches are transitory in nature or whether they can and should be sustained in the long‐term, given the right incentives to these MNEs. We conclude by redefining MNEs' social innovation and by suggesting avenues for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and educators to support this momentum in MNEs which we argue, if sustainable, can be fruitful for addressing other pressing grand challenges such as climate change, food security, poverty, and inequality.
Governance, foreign aid, and Chinese foreign direct investment
Authors: Fon Roger , Alon Ilan
Published: February 2022

This article examines how Chinese foreign aid interacts with the quality of the host country's governance in shaping Chinese state‐owned enterprises' (CSOEs') foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa. By analyzing the firm‐level greenfield FDI data of CSOEs between 2003 and 2014 and distinguishing between China's official development assistance and less concessional forms of Chinese foreign aid, we reveal two main findings. First, the quality of the host country's governance negatively affects CSOEs' FDI. Second, other official aid and loans from China negatively moderate the relationship between the quality of the host country's governance and FDI by CSOEs. Specifically, the tendency for CSOEs to invest in locations with weak governance increases when their investments are integrated with less concessional forms of Chinese foreign aid in the form of other official flows and loans. Our results are robust to alternative measures of the governance and different methodological approaches. The article challenges the traditional notion of institutional theory which assumes a positive relationship between governance quality and FDI attraction.