bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy‐based devices in the treatment of acne scars in skin of color
Authors: Teymour Shereen , Kania Barbara , Lal Karan , Goldberg David
Published: December 2022

Background

Acne scarring is disfiguring and psychologically taxing on patients. Many energy‐based modalities have emerged and been studied for the treatment of acne scarring; however, there is a paucity of these studies in skin phototypes IV–VI.

Objective

To review the medical literature and discuss the most significant studies regarding safety and efficacy of energy‐based devices (ablative lasers, non‐ablative lasers, and radiofrequency microneedling) in the treatment of ethnic skin (skin phototypes IV–VI).

Methods

A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database and bibliographies of relevant articles.

Results

Ablative and non‐ablative lasers have proven to be effective for treatment of acne scars in ethnic skin. The risk of developing adverse effects such as post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation is contingent upon several factors including skin phototype, laser device, fluence, and moreso density settings. Non‐ablative fractional lasers have been considered first line for the treatment of acne scars in skin of color due to their better safety profile; however, they are less efficacious and require more treatments compared to ablative lasers. Studies regarding efficacy and safety of radiofrequency microneedling for treatment of acne scarring in skin of color are limited, but are promising.

Conclusion

Ablative lasers, non‐ablative lasers, and radiofrequency microneedling are all useful treatments for acne scarring in ethnic skin when appropriate settings are used. Further head‐to‐head studies are needed to evaluate their efficacy and safety in darker skin phototypes V–VI.
Modulation of TRPV1 function by Citrus reticulata (tangerine) fruit extract for the treatment of sensitive skin
Authors: Zhou Li‐dan , Lu Yi‐na , Liu Qing , Shi Xue‐mei , Tian Jun
Published: December 2022

Background

Sensitive skin (SS) is a clinical syndrome defined by the occurrence of unpleasant sensations (such as stinging, burning, pain, pruritus, and tingling) in response to stimuli that normally should not provoke them. According to growing evidence, transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) has elevated expression in individuals with SS and is linked with the severity of SS symptoms. However, its pathogenesis is still unknown.

Objective

Herein, Citrus reticulata (Tangerine) fruit extract (CR) was obtained and examined for its effect on SS with a focus on TRPV1 stimulation and expression.

Methods

A recombinant hTRPV1 over‐expression cell line (HaCaT‐TRPV1‐OE cell) was constructed to screen substances and extracts from several plants. Intracellular calcium mobilization was monitored by Flexstation 3 and a fluorescence microscope using Fluo 8 AM fluorophore. Next, immunofluorescence was used to detect the TRPV1 expression under different stimulants treated for 24 h. To investigate the relief and increased tolerance of CR to lactic acid‐induced skin discomfort, clinical tests were carried out on the nasolabial folds or cheek areas.

Results

According to the obtained results, compared to HaCaT cells, HaCaT‐TRPV1‐OE cells showed a higher expression of TRPV1. Neuronal hyperresponsiveness in SS triggered by capsaicin (CAP), lactic acid, phenoxyethanol or nicotinamide may be through activation of TRPV1 and increased TRPV1 expression. CAP activates TRPV1 in HaCaT‐TRPV1‐OE cells, and more than 100 plants or chemicals were tested for their inhibitory effects before being screened for CR. CR (1%–4%) inhibited TRPV1 activation induced by CAP or phenoxyethanol or nicotinamide. Meanwhile, CR (0.25%) suppressed TRPV1 protein expression induced by phenoxyethanol or lactic acid. In vivo results showed that CR not only instantly relieved lactic acid‐induced skin discomfort under 5 min but also enhanced skin tolerance to lactic acid after 7 days of continuous use.

Conclusions

Topical application of CR showed an instant and long‐lasting improvement in SS by modulating the activation and expression of TRPV1. Moreover, it has been suggested that CR might act as a TRPV1 inhibitor to reduce skin irritation or sensitivity.
Caregiver Experiences of Adolescent School Reentry After Adolescent Hospitalization Due to Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: Recommendations to Improve Reentry Practices
Authors: Vanderburg Juliana L. , Tow Amanda C. , Marraccini Marisa E. , Pittleman Cari , Cruz Christina M.
Published: December 2022

Background

Suicide rates among adolescents increased over the past few decades. Following psychiatric hospitalization, many adolescents return to school, a context that can influence recovery. Families can play an integral role in supporting adolescents through the hospitalization and school reentry process; however, little research has focused on family experiences during adolescent school reentry. Grounded in ecological systems theory, the aim of the present study was to explore the experiences of caregivers whose children were hospitalized for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) and provide recommendations for the school reentry process.

Methods

In‐depth interviews were conducted with caregivers (n = 19) whose adolescents returned to school following hospitalization for suicide‐related crises. Researchers analyzed the transcribed interviews using applied thematic analysis.

Results

Themes emerged regarding academic difficulties during hospitalization; breakdowns in communication between schools, families, and hospitals; logistical challenges during the school reentry planning process; and challenges navigating peer relationships and academics following school reentry.

Implications and Conclusions

Few reentry recommendations account for the specific challenges faced by families. Recommendations informed by caregiver experiences are needed to ensure that families can effectively support the recoveries of their children. This study presents caregiver‐informed recommendations to facilitate an improved reentry process for caregivers and adolescents.
Mechanisms behind elevational plant species richness patterns revealed by a trait‐based approach
Authors: Ratier Backes Amanda , Römermann Christine , Alexander Jake M. , Arévalo José Ramón , Keil Petr , Padrón‐Mederos Miguel Antonio , Trogisch Stefan , Haider Sylvia
Published: December 2022

Aims

Elevational patterns of plant species richness may be caused by multiple underlying mechanisms, and the same pattern can be predicted by different mechanisms. Using the steep elevational gradient of Tenerife as a model system, we aimed to test if the application of a trait‐based approach can help disentangle the role of potential mechanisms behind local elevational plant species richness patterns.

Location

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.

Methods

Based on vegetation relevés from natural vegetation and disturbed roadside habitat, along an elevational gradient of 2300 m, we observed a peak of plant species richness in the lowest third of the gradient. We considered three mechanisms potentially shaping this pattern: environmental filtering (temperature and precipitation), effects of area and disturbance. For these mechanisms, we hypothesized a distinct pattern of functional trait–elevation relationships. These were tested with in‐situ data of nine functional leaf traits, from which we calculated community‐weighted means (CWM) of traits and functional diversity (Rao's Q).

Results

While species richness was significantly positively correlated with temperature, area and disturbance, filtering through temperature was the only mechanism for which we could confirm most of our mechanism‐specific hypotheses about elevational trait changes: with increasing elevation, CWMs of most traits indicated shifts from acquisitive to conservative growth strategies, and functional diversity decreased. The shift of growth strategies also supported the disturbance effect, as we found overall more acquisitive communities at roadsides compared to natural habitats.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that simple correlations between species richness and abiotic variables are not necessarily causal. Additional testing of mechanism‐specific hypotheses for elevational patterns of both CWMs and functional diversity can help distinguishing between correlational and mechanistic relationships between species richness and environmental variables. The trait‐based framework presented here can be fruitfully applied to better understand species richness patterns in other regions and across other types of environmental gradients.
How Output Outweighs Input and Interlocutors Matter for Study‐Abroad SLA: Computational Social Network Analysis of Learner Interactions
Authors: PARADOWSKI MICHAŁ B. , CIERPICH–KOZIEŁ AGNIESZKA , CHEN CHIH–CHUN , OCHAB JEREMI K.
Published: December 2022

This data‐driven study framed in the interactionist approach investigates the influence of social graph topology and peer interaction dynamics among foreign exchange students enrolled in an intensive German language course on second language acquisition (SLA) outcomes. Applying the algorithms and metrics of computational social network analysis (SNA), we find that (a) the best predictor of target language (TL) performance is reciprocal interactions in the language being acquired, (b) the proportion of output in the TL is a stronger predictor than input (Principle of Proportional Output), (c) there is a negative relationship between performance and interactions with same‐first‐language speakers, (d) a significantly underperforming English native‐speaker dominated cluster is present, and (e) there are more intense interactions taking place between students of different proficiency levels. Unlike previous study abroad social network research concentrating on the microlevel of individual learners’ egocentric networks and presenting an emic view only, this study constitutes the first application of computational SNA to a complete learner network (sociogram). It provides new insights into the link between social relations and SLA with an etic perspective, showing how social network configuration and peer learner interaction are stronger predictors of TL performance than individual factors such as attitude or motivation, and offering a rigorous methodology for investigating the phenomenon.
Two recovered cases of large pontine hematoma
Authors: Unnithan Ajaya Kumar Ayyappan
Published: December 2022

The comatose patients with pontine hemorrhage of diameter greater than 2 cm have poor prognosis. A 59‐year‐old male was brought with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score of E2M5V2. He was mechanically ventilated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a pontine hematoma, of size 3 cm. He improved. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score was five. A 57‐year‐old male was brought with GCS score E1M3V1. He was ventilated. MRI scan showed a pontine hematoma of size 2.8 cm. His GOS score was three at 6 months. This is a report of two survived cases of large pontine hematoma with poor prognostic factors. This is the first report of good recovery with large pontine hematoma to GOS 5.
Forkhead box A2‐mediated lncRNA SOX2OT up‐regulation alleviates oxidative stress and apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells by promoting SIRT1 expression in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Ye Gang , Hu Man‐li , Xiao Ling
Published: December 2022

Background

Renal tubular injury is the main feature of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We intend to investigate the function and related mechanisms of lncRNA SOX2 overlapping transcript (SOX2OT) in high glucose (HG)‐induced oxidative stress and apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs).

Methods

To construct diabetes models, the human kidney‐2 (HK‐2) cells were treated with HG (30 mM), and mice were injected with streptozotocin. The levels of intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed by dihydroethidium staining and MitoSox staining. The cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry and TUNEL staining. Levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Urinary ACR, and oxidative stress marker 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG) were detected by relevant kits. In addition, fluorescence in situ hybridization staining, RNA‐pull down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), co‐immunoprecipitation (co‐IP), dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) were also executed.

Results

Levels of SOX2OT and silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) were down‐regulated in HG‐cultured HK‐2 cells. Overexpressing SOX2OT reduced intracellular and mitochondrial ROS levels and cell apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, SOX2OT overexpression also reduced serum creatinine, BUN, urinary ACR, 8‐OHdG, renal tubular injury markers KIM1 and NGAL, ROS levels, and cell apoptosis in vivo. In addition, SOX2OT promoted SIRT1 expression by suppressing its ubiquitination. Besides, interference with SIRT1 reversed the inhibitory effect of SOX2OT overexpression on HG‐induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. Forkhead box A2 (Foxa2) levels were up‐regulated in HG‐cultured HK‐2 cells. Foxa2 could bind to the SOX2OT promoter and suppress its expression. Furthermore, interfering with SOX2OT reversed the inhibitory effect of Foxa2 interference on HG‐induced oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Conclusion

Foxa2‐mediated SOX2OT up‐regulation reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis of RTECs by promoting SIRT1 expression, thus alleviating the progression of DN.
Intensive care nurse‐led point of care ultrasound in the assessment and management of the critically ill COVID‐19 patient: A single centre case series
Authors: Corcoran Eleanor , Hopkins Phil , Fisher Richard , Wong Adrian , Rose Louise
Published: December 2022

Focused ultrasound can be used to rapidly diagnose COVID‐19 disease, assess disease severity, and inform management of COVID‐19 and associated pathologies, reducing radiation exposure from other imaging modalities and minimizing spread of infection. Ultrasound examinations performed by trained nurses in the intensive care unit (ICU) enable more patients to receive these assessments. This case series evaluates the use of nurse‐led focused cardiac and lung ultrasound for clinical management of ICU patients with COVID‐19. We describe common pathophysiological findings and how findings were used to inform clinical decision‐making. An ultrasound trained ICU nurse performed Focused Ultrasound in Intensive Care (FUSIC) cardiac and lung scans enabling calculation of a lung severity score on adult ICU patients with a confirmed COVID‐19 diagnosis in a single‐centre setting. Fifteen scans were performed on 15 patients. Thirteen (87%) patients had normal left ventricular function; 12 (80%) normal right ventricular function. All 15 (100%) scans identified abnormal lung findings including irregular thickened pleura, B‐lines, sub‐pleural consolidation and hepatization. Worse lung severity scores were correlated with higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) scores (r = 0.70; p = .003). Of the 15 scans, 10 (67%) identified abnormal pathology contributing to a change in clinical management. This included targeted fluid removal (4, 27%), change in respiratory management (3, 20%) and need for formal echocardiographic assessment (3, 20%). Findings from five (33%) scans required no intervention. This case series demonstrates nurse‐led ultrasound could be a useful adjunct in the management of the COVID‐19 patient.
Un‐yielding: Evidence for the agriculture transformation we need
Authors: Chaplin‐Kramer Rebecca , Chappell M. Jahi , Bennett Elena M.
Published: December 2022

There has been a seismic shift in the center of gravity of scientific writing and thinking about agriculture over the past decades, from a prevailing focus on maximizing yields toward a goal of balancing trade‐offs and ensuring the delivery of multiple ecosystem services. Maximizing crop yields often results in a system where most benefits accrue to very few (in the form of profits), alongside irreparable environmental harm to agricultural ecosystems, landscapes, and people. Here, we present evidence that an un‐yielding, which we define as de‐emphasizing the importance of yields alone, is necessary to achieve the goal of a more Food secure, Agrobiodiverse, Regenerative, Equitable and just (FARE) agriculture. Focusing on yields places the emphasis on one particular outcome of agriculture, which is only an intermediate means to the true endpoint of human well‐being. Using yields as a placeholder for this outcome ignores the many other benefits of agriculture that people also care about, like health, livelihoods, and a sense of place. Shifting the emphasis to these multiple benefits rather than merely yields, and to their equitable delivery to all people, we find clear scientific evidence of win‐wins for people and nature through four strategies that foster FARE agriculture: reduced disturbance, systems reintegration, diversity, and justice (in the form of securing rights to land and other resources). Through a broad review of the current state of agriculture, desired futures, and the possible pathways to reach them, we argue that while trade‐offs between some ecosystem services in agriculture are unavoidable, the same need not be true of the end benefits we desire from them.
Histopathological findings of pericarditis in a patient with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID‐19: A case report
Authors: Maruyama Kazuaki , Yasuda Kazushi , Ito Ryoichi , Imanaka‐Yoshida Kyoko
Published: December 2022

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C), which is associated with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), has been described as an inflammatory complication of exposure to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). It carries a risk of serious and lethal complications, including cardiogenic shock. Here, we report the pathological findings of the pericardium in a 10‐year‐old child with MIS‐C, who developed pericarditis‐induced cardiac tamponade. In the patient's pericardium, the numbers of infiltrating CD68+ macrophages; CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells; and myeloperoxidase+ granulocytes were increased, although the number of CD20+ B cells was not. These findings provide a clue to understanding the pathophysiology of MIS‐C.
Police unions and use‐of‐force reforms in American cities
Authors: Nicholson‐Crotty Sean , Nicholson‐Crotty Jill , Lee Euipyo
Published: December 2022

Following the murder of George Floyd, there was widespread debate about the policies that govern the use of force by police, but municipal leaders suggested that police unions kept many of the proposed changes from being adopted. Although there is anecdotal and scholarly evidence that unions frequently oppose policing reform, the limited literature in this area actually offers somewhat mixed conclusions about the relationship between union strength and the success of previous reform efforts. In this study, we draw on Halpin's theory of interest groups as politically adaptive organizations to develop expectations about the behavior of police unions in police governance subsystems. We hypothesize that union attempts to influence policy will correlatepositivelywith reform adoption when the political environment is conducive to victory on that front or makes the cost of opposition too high andnegativelywhen the opposite conditions hold. Analyses of the impact of union campaign contributions on the adoption of use‐of‐force policies in the 100 largest U.S. cities demonstrate that the nature and direction of union influence are moderated by the political climate of the jurisdiction in which they operate.
Effectiveness of spontaneous pain coping strategies for acute pain management: A laboratory study
Authors: López‐López Almudena , Gutierrez Jose Luis González , Hernández Juan Carlos Pacho , Matías‐Pompa Borja , Peña Irene Judith Muñoz
Published: December 2022

The aim of the present study has been to analyze the relationship between the use of not previously trained, diverse acute pain coping strategies and levels of pain intensity and pain tolerance in a group of healthy participants. Previous research has analyzed the usefulness of the training of these strategies after several training sessions, but adequate patient training requires a great deal of time. Two hundred and forty healthy people participated in the study. Pain coping strategies was evaluated with a version of CSQ‐S. Subsequently, the participants completed a cold pressor test and tolerance test. After that, subjects filled in the adaptation of the CSQ‐S about the strategies which they had employed throughout the test. Correlation analyses showed a positive relationship between pain intensity and catastrophizing, distractor behaviors, hoping and ignoring the pain. Pain tolerance correlated with self‐instructions, ignoring the pain, reinterpreting the pain, catastrophizing and faith and praying. Regression analyses showed that catastrophizing was found to be the strategy that most predicts the variance of pain intensity, and catastrophizing (negative) and ignoring the pain (positive) and praying (negative) were the most predictive ones for pain tolerance. This is the first laboratory study that identifies the more useful pain coping strategies which can be used by patients without previous training in an acute pain context. The results of this study could be useful in the development of protocols for nurses and other health professionals, especially for situations where potentially painful techniques are to be applied to patients.
Crop yield and carbon sink potential with precipitation in maize and potato cropland ecosystems over the summertime monsoon transition zone of China
Authors: Hu Yanbin , Zhang Qiang , Hu Shujuan , Xiao Guoju , Zhang Liang , Han Lanying , Yue Ping , Wang Jianshun , Qi Yue , Ye Peilong
Published: December 2022

China has significantly enhanced vegetation coverage and terrestrial carbon sink functions through ecological restoration. However, cropland ecosystems are sensitive to a changing climate over the summertime monsoon transition zone of China (SMTZC), which has implications for carbon cycling. For example, it is unclear how changes in precipitation will affect the cropland ecosystem carbon sinks (CSe) and carbon sink potential (CSp), and the mechanisms of tradeoffs that develop between plant and soil organic carbon (SOC) are unclear. Here, we integrated crop yield, total biomass (TB) and water coefficient in a combined field and modelling experimental. We explored the mechanisms of ecosystem carbon cycling and CSp in the SMTZC under different precipitation scenarios. We found that soil organic carbon sink (SOCs) was strongly correlated with the plant organic carbon sink (POCs) and discovered. Significant differences in CSp between ecosystems resulting from interannual precipitation. The C4 (maize, Zea mays) and C3 (potato, Solanum tuberosum L) carbon sinks (CSs) were 68.59, 190.73, 160.37 Mt and 10.21, 30.97, 14.59 Mt for the 3 years, respectively. Precipitation effectively increased TB and yield, but excessive precipitation in them, which was most obvious in C3 ecosystem (R2 > 0.60) and reduced POCs, evident in C4 ecosystem (R2 > 0.16). This study provides data and a scientific basis for increasing CS and achieving carbon neutrality in cropland.
Strigolactone regulates adventitious root formation via the MdSMXL7‐MdWRKY6‐MdBRC1 signaling cascade in apple
Authors: Fan Xingqiang , Li Yuqi , Deng Cecilia H. , Wang Shiyao , Wang Zijun , Wang Yi , Qiu Changpeng , Xu Xuefeng , Han Zhenhai , Li Wei
Published: December 2022

Propagation through stem cuttings is a popular method worldwide for species such as fruit tree rootstocks and forest trees. Adventitious root (AR) formation from stem cuttings is crucial for effective and successful clonal propagation of apple rootstocks. Strigolactones (SLs) are newly identified hormones involved in AR formation. However, the regulatory mechanisms underpinning this process remain elusive. In the present study, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis, as well as rooting assays using stable transgenic apple materials, revealed that MdBRC1 served as a key gene in the inhibition of AR formation by SLs. We have demonstrated that MdSMXL7 and MdWRKY6 synergistically regulated MdBRC1 expression, depending on the interactions of MdSMXL7 and MdWRKY6 at the protein level downstream of SLs as well as the direct promoter binding on MdBRC1 by MdWRKY6. Furthermore, biochemical studies and genetic analysis revealed that MdBRC1 inhibited AR formation by triggering the expression of MdGH3.1 in a transcriptional activation pathway. Finally, the present study not only proposes a component, MdWRKY6, that enables MdSMXL7 to regulate MdBRC1 during the process of SL‐controlled AR formation in apple, but also provides prospective target genes to enhance AR formation capacity using CRISPR (i.e. clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology, particularly in woody plants.
Don't let go: co‐fractionation mass spectrometry for untargeted mapping of protein–metabolite interactomes
Authors: Schlossarek Dennis , Zhang Youjun , Sokolowska Ewelina M. , Fernie Alisdair R. , Luzarowski Marcin , Skirycz Aleksandra
Published: December 2022

The chemical complexity of metabolomes goes hand in hand with their functional diversity. Small molecules have many essential roles, many of which are executed by binding and modulating the function of a protein partner. The complex and dynamic protein–metabolite interaction (PMI) network underlies most if not all biological processes, but remains under‐characterized. Herein, we highlight how co‐fractionation mass spectrometry (CF‐MS), a well‐established approach to map protein assemblies, can be used for proteome and metabolome identification of the PMIs. We will review recent CF‐MS studies, discuss the main advantages and limitations, summarize the available CF‐MS guidelines, and outline future challenges and opportunities.
A review of diagnostic tests for qualitative and quantitative tear film deficiency in dogs
Authors: Iwashita Hiroko , Sebbag Lionel , Leonard Brian C. , Saito Akihiko
Published: December 2022

Dry eye disease (DED) is a complex multifactorial condition caused by loss of ocular surface homeostasis from quantitative and/or qualitative tear film deficiency. Schirmer tear test (STT) is often the only diagnostic test used to assess for DED in veterinary practice. STT is invaluable in the diagnosis and monitoring of quantitative tear film deficiency (i.e., keratoconjunctivitis sicca); however, it is not sufficient to optimize therapy and fully recognize other contributing factors for the disturbance in ocular surface homeostasis. The present work reviews diagnostic tests for assessing aqueous tear production in veterinary medicine, as well as the quality of tears, corneal epithelial barrier integrity, and the lacrimal functional unit.
Sharp Rosenthal‐type inequalities for mixtures and log‐concave variables
Authors: Chasapis Giorgos , Eskenazis Alexandros , Tkocz Tomasz
Published: December 2022

We obtain Rosenthal‐type inequalities with sharp constants for moments of sums of independent random variables which are mixtures of a fixed distribution. We also identify extremizers in log‐concave settings when the moments of summands are individually constrained.
Surface reaction modelling of thermal atomic layer etching on blanket hafnium oxide and its application on high aspect ratio structures
Authors: Fischer Andreas , Mui David , Routzahn Aaron , Gasvoda Ryan , Sims Jim , Lill Thorsten
Published: December 2022

Thermal atomic layer etching is rapidly becoming an important complementary processing technology in the manufacturing of 5 and 3 nm devices in the semiconductor industry. Critically, architectures such as 3D NAND and 3D DRAM require conformal isotropic etching to remove material such as HfO2 in hard-to-reach locations with aspect ratios that can be greater than 50:1. To achieve repeatable device performance throughout a 3D stack, the removal rate (etch per cycle) of the etched material during an etch process needs to be controlled such that the overall etch amount is the same from top to bottom of the device stack. In this work, the reaction kinetics of reactants and byproducts during a cyclical ligand exchange-based atomic layer etching (ALE) process have been modelled. This ALE process consists of two steps: a fluorination step followed by a fluorine-to-chlorine ligand exchange-based removal step. Modeling was performed for each of those steps separately. Experimental data revealed that the fluorine dosing during the fluorination step was predominantly responsible for controlling the etch rate of the ALE process but had only a minimal impact on the etch profile inside high aspect ratio holes. The ligand exchange dosing, on the other hand, predominantly controlled the etch profile (depth loading) with equal etch rates from top-to-bottom, obtained when the step was operated close to saturation. The model predicts that the chemical reaction rate of dimethylaluminum chloride (DMAC) on a fluorinated surface during the ligand exchange step is 9.1 s−1, about 46 times greater than the reaction rate of hydrogen fluoride (HF) on the hafnium oxide surface during the fluorination step (only 0.2 s−1). Furthermore, modeling results revealed that the sticking coefficient for DMAC on a hafnium fluoride surface far exceeded that of HF on a hafnium oxide surface in the conditions modelled (0.94 s−1 for DMAC vs 0.0058 s−1 for HF). With these modeling results, the different roles fluorination and ligand exchange steps have regarding the control of etch rate per cycle and profile inside high aspect ratio holes can be explained.
An invitation to practice self-compassion
Authors: Potvin Ashley
Published: December 2022

It’s a challenging time to be a physics teacher. Teachers are expected to balance the rigorous demands of teaching—lesson planning, preparing lab materials, assessing student work, analyzing student data, communicating with parents and families, attending meetings—while at the same time tending to the hearts and minds of students with care and dignity and cultivating community within their classrooms and schools. National evidence points to a dramatic rise in mental health concerns among both youth and educators. Across the country, teachers and students are still acutely feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers and students are also deeply impacted by the suffering caused by systemic racism and injustice. You might find yourself, during a hectic day, feeling stressed, isolated, overwhelmed, or burned out. You are not alone. A recent study found that teachers were 40% more likely to report anxiety than healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased numbers of educators across the nation are considering leaving the profession earlier than planned and teacher mental health and staffing shortages are of high concern. It is within this context that educators are called to support the social and emotional well-being of their students while also navigating their own grief, stress, and challenges, often with limited support to realize the dreams that led them to the profession in the first place.
A Dynamic Electron Model for Teaching Electric Circuits
Authors: Beil Fabian , Thees Michael , Kapp Sebastian , Kuhn Jochen
Published: December 2022

In introductory electric circuits in middle school, students often carry strongly held alternative conceptions. Common to many of these is an idea of electric current as some kind of substance that originates from the battery and moves toward electronic components. Learners often argue that current influences those one by one as they are encountered (sequential reasoning), splits into equal parts at junctions independently of resistances (local reasoning), or moves toward a component from both connectors of the battery, only affecting the components if a “positive current” and a “negative current” meet there (clashing currents). Also, these learners might argue that the battery always delivers the same amount of electric current or that current is used up in, e.g., a light bulb.
Acceleration Research Based on Arduino Motion
Authors: Lin Zhiqi , Xie Yuchan , Tu Chaoshi
Published: December 2022

Acceleration of moving objects is usually measured by photoelectric gates. In this paper, a method of acceleration measurement is proposed by pasting white card stock and black tape on a pulley and then using an Arduino to time the motion. This method only needs one photoelectric sensor to measure the acceleration. In contrast, using photoelectric gates to measure acceleration requires more than two photoelectric sensors, and the distance between the two photoelectric sensors has a great influence on the measurement. This distance is difficult to obtain accurately beyond the measurement range of the general caliper. The pulley diameter required by this method can be accurately obtained within the measuring range of a caliper or micrometer, and variable acceleration can also be measured by this method.
Using Space Junk to Measure G
Authors: Wirth David C.
Published: December 2022

In the movie Gravity, American astronaut and scientist Dr. Stone (Sandra Bullock) is on a spacewalk when tragedy suddenly strikes. An ever-increasing field of debris caused by a destroyed spy satellite damages the Hubble and Space Shuttle and quickly wipes out their mission. Dr. Stone spends the rest of the movie trying to find a ride back home.
The Projectile Scattering Apparatus—A Modern Update to a Classic Experiment
Authors: Fletcher Kurtis A. , Lallier Nicole M. , Masman Jack M.
Published: December 2022

Inspired by a commercially produced scattering experiment that was popular beginning in the 1960s, we have developed a Nerf-projectile-based educational activity to demonstrate the basics of particle scattering experiments.
The Physical Pendulum: An Illustrative Teaching Laboratory Example Using a Long Rod
Authors: Gómez Jesús Palacios , Villagómez Roque André Eleazar Arroyo
Published: December 2022

Here, a relatively simple laboratory experiment of a physical pendulum, suitable for students of science and engineering in the first courses of university physics, is presented to illustrate its dynamic behavior and to determine its inertia moment. To this end, a long wooden rod of length L = 99.8 cm and cross-section radius R = 1.73 cm was used as the physical pendulum. The period of oscillation was measured as a function of the distance from the rotation axis to the center of mass. It is shown that the oscillation period is a superposition of two contributions, namely, a linear and a hyperbolic function, which has a minimum at the distance hmin=I0/M, where I0 is the moment of inertia of the rod about the rotation axis at its center of mass, and M is its mass. It is further shown that this quantity is independent of mass for all bodies of constant density, and a numerical method is applied to obtain the moment of inertia of the rod. Results obtained from a laboratory experiment agree with the expected one within 4%.
Determining Charge Stored on a Capacitor Using Numerical Integration with a Spreadsheet
Authors: Young Douglas T.
Published: December 2022

Experiments involving RC circuits are an integral part of introductory physics courses. Previous articles using RC circuits describe determining the charge on a Van de Graaff generator, measuring currents and voltages in a charging RC circuit using a multimeter or an Arduino, measuring the decay constants of complex RC circuits, and using the Pasco ScienceWorkshop 750 Interface to examine various physical properties of capacitors. In this paper, I will show how to determine the capacitance of a capacitor charged with a battery of known voltage using an RC circuit and numerical integration performed on a spreadsheet.
Creative Astronomy: Broadening the Scope of an Online General Education Course by Leveraging an Authentic Collaboration between Learning Assistant and Instructor
Authors: Sabella Mel S. , Roberts Joann C.
Published: December 2022

Course revision is often challenging, and instructional partnerships between Learning Assistants (LAs; peer mentors) and course instructors can be leveraged to create novel learning spaces, through an ongoing, iterative revision process coupled with an open sharing of ideas between the LA and instructor. We describe the specifics of an instructional partnership between LA and instructor in the context of an online general education course in astronomy and cosmology, focusing both on the partnership and the activities generated through the partnership.
2022 Para Report Card on Physical Activity of Israeli Children and Adolescents With Disabilities
Authors: Hutzler Yeshayahu , Tesler Riki , Gilad Avinoam , Ng Kwok , Barak Sharon
Published: December 2022

Children and adolescents with disabilities (CAWD) represent 11% of Israeli children and adolescents. The 10 core indicators of the Global Matrix on Para Report Cards of physical activity (PA) of CAWD were used to create the 2022 Israeli Para Report Card. A panel of four experts reviewed resources and synthesized evidence of PA behaviors and policies for CAWD in Israel, converted the data to grades, and charted subcategories of language, sex, and disability across population. Data sources were surveys, reports, and memberships in sport federations and clubs. Among CAWD, levels of participation in daily PA were poor (<20%; Grade F), and participation of CAWD in sports was even lower (<10%; Grade F). A lack of environmental infrastructure may explain the low levels of participation. Females, Arabic speakers, and physiological CAWD need particular attention. Establishing governmental policies and interventions is required to increase overall PA and participation in sports among CAWD.
Hydroacoustic Studies of the Migration of Anadromous Rainbow Trout Parasalmo mykiss (Salmonidae) in the Kvachina River (Western Kamchatka)
Authors: Borisenko E. S. , Pavlov D. S. , Kuzishchin K. V.
Published: December 2022

The NetCor research hydroacoustic system has been used to study the anadromous migration of the rainbow trout Parasalmo mykiss (Walbaum, 1792) in the Kvachina River (Western Kamchatka) during its autumn entry from the sea. The intensity of the fish movement increases in similar periods of the neighboring years (2010–2011), which indicates the cyclical migration of the species associated with changes in temperature and water level in the river. The daily dynamics of the movement is characterized by two periods of increased intensity of migration: the first is timed to dawn, while the second begins in the evening hours. The extrapolation of the obtained data provides the estimated numbers of the rainbow trout abundance in the river: 9832 and 2855 individuals in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The difference in the abundance of anadromous rainbow trout in the neighboring years probably results from the peculiarities of the geomorphology and hydrological regime of the river.
Utilization of the random forest method for studying some heavy mesons spectra via machine learning technique
Authors: Nahool T. A. , Anwar M. , Yahya G. A. , Yasser A. M.
Published: December 2022

The random forest method is used for the first time to provide results for some heavy meson spectra, such as [Formula: see text] mesons. The performance of our model in predicting the mass spectra of [Formula: see text] mesons from 1S to 6S states is investigated. The predictions are in a good accordance with the latest experimental data and other theoretical approaches.
Tuning the triplet population of arylselanyl-BODIPY photosensitizers through substituents engineering for triplet-triplet annihilation photon upconversion with perylene
Authors: Hasegawa Ryohei , Ito Masato , Kubo Yuji
Published: December 2022

Organic triplet-triplet annihilation photon upconversion (TTA-UC) systems have attracted considerable attention owing to their promising applicability in solar energy harvesting, optoelectronic devices, photocatalysts, and bio-imaging. In this study, a series of BODIPYs prepared by incorporating substituted/ unsubstituted arylselenium groups, 1 (R = H), 2 (R = OMe), and 3 (R = F), were evaluated as triplet photosensitizers for TTA-UC. Direct Se-C bond formation on the BODIPY core provided a facile intersystem crossing (ISC) channel from the excited singlet state to the metastable triplet state, being the most effective in 2, as inferred from the singlet oxygen generation experiments, possibly because of the n-electron arising from the OMe group. The UC behavior of systems comprising the sensitizers and perylene as the acceptor in deaerated toluene was investigated using a 524 nm-wavelength laser to detect upconverted emission at 449 nm; thus, the UC yield decreased in the order of 21% for 3 > 16% for 2 > 12% for 1. This trend is consistent with the Stern-Volmer constants calculated from the quenched triplet state lifetimes of the sensitizers as a function of the concentration of the perylene quencher. This suggests that the UC efficiency was mainly governed by the intermolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) process between arylselanyl-BODIPY photosensitizers and the perylene acceptor. This result was rationalized by the efficient population of the long-lived triplet excited state of the sensitizer, which is advantageous for diffusion-controlled TTA-UC behavior.
Bis-porphyrin tetragonal prisms assembled through Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding between complementary nucleobases
Authors: González-Sánchez Marina , Montoro-García Carlos , Veiga Jacobo , Hunter Christopher A. , de Juan Alberto , González-Rodríguez David
Published: December 2022

We report here on the self-assembly of two components, a Zn(II) porphyrin substituted with four lipophilic cytidines and a linear linker substituted with two guanosines, into a Watson-Crick hydrogen-bonded tetragonal prism. The corresponding ensemble, comprising two cofacial porphyrin macrocycles, exhibited similar supramolecular behavior as a reference cyclic tetramer previously studied by us. The establishment of strong G:C interactions in apolar chlorinated solvents was demonstrated by the chemical shift recorded for the relevant H-bonded protons. Most importantly, the hexacomponent prism assembly, when partially dissociated by the addition of the competing DMSO solvent, exhibited a slow exchange on the NMR timescale with the individual constituents, which is characteristic of kinetically stabilized discrete assemblies. Absorption, emission, and CD spectroscopy experiments revealed that the spectral features of the tetragonal prism were totally different from the ones recorded for the porphyrin and linker components, which also showed strong self-aggregation in apolar solvents. Temperature-dependent experiments, monitored by NMR and optical spectroscopy techniques, revealed remarkable thermodynamic stability for the prism assembly.
Elemental Redistribution During the Crystallization of Ge–Cu–Te Thin Films for Phase-Change Memory
Authors: Wang Ming , Chen Leng
Published: December 2022

Herein, a GeCu2Te2 alloy is proposed as a phase-change material for application in nonvolatile phase-change random access memory (PRAM). The crystallization kinetics and microchemical changes during phase transformation are investigated, and their correlation with the electrical behaviors of the GeCu2Te2 thin films are examined. The key findings are as follows: (ⅰ) the GeCu2Te2 alloy shows a higher crystallization temperature (∼185 °C) than the classic Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) thin films, thus demonstrating superior thermal stability; (ⅱ) the crystallization kinetics demonstrate a decreasing in the Avrami exponent n from 4, which is related to the growth-dominated crystallization process evidenced by the micromorphology; (ⅲ) a massive redistribution of the chemical elements along the depth of the thin films during crystallization is considered to be driven by selective surface oxidation at amorphous state, and stress buildup during crystallization. In addition, the crystallization-induced stress is determined as ∼168 MPa by utilizing the wafer curvature and X-ray diffraction methods for the GeCu2Te2 thin films. Finally, the lower threshold switching voltage ∼1.72 V for amorphous GeCu2Te2 thin films is beneficial for reducing the SET operating power consumption. The authors believe that these results are valuable for the optimal phase change material design.
A Contemporary Review on Friction Stir Welding of Circular Pipe Joints and the Influence of Fixtures on This Process
Authors: Senthil S. M. , Bhuvanesh Kumar M. , Dennison Milon Selvam
Published: December 2022

The permanent metal joining processes play a vital role in assembling the complex aluminium structures of the aerospace, automotive, marine, and oil industries. The invention of friction stir welding (FSW) redefined the mechanism of metal joining to produce high-quality welds by eliminating the consumption of electrodes and shielding gases, resulting in economical processes. Research works still lack to explore the application of FSW in complex geometries. In this view, the present work reports a critical review of various geometries welded by FSW, mainly circular geometries that are majorly used in the oil and gas industries. The various aspects of the FSW of pipes, such as process facilitation, process parameters, tool material selection, and tool design selection are discussed. The paper also presents insights into the parameters responsible for the weld quality, the feasibility of optimization techniques, and the status of various fixture arrangements. The facilitation requisites for FSW of pipes are also provided based on the reviews made. The review concludes by discussing the challenges associated with the FSW of pipes, economic aspects, and future research directions.
Characterization of Human-Induced Neural Stem Cells and Derivatives following Transplantation into the Central Nervous System of a Nonhuman Primate and Rats
Authors: Li Mengjia , Wang Zhengbo , Zheng Tianqi , Huang Tianzhuang , Liu Baoguo , Han Deqiang , Liu Sumei , Liu Bochao , Li Mo , Si Wei , Zhang Y. Alex , Niu Yuyu , Chen Zhiguo
Published: December 2022

Neural stem cells (NSCs) and derivatives are potential cellular sources to treat neurological diseases. In the current study, we reprogrammed human peripheral blood mononuclear cells into induced NSCs (iNSCs) and inserted GFP gene into the AAVS1 site for graft tracing. Targeted integration of GFP does not affect the proliferation and differentiation capacity of iNSCs. iNSC-GFP can be further differentiated into dopaminergic precursors (DAPs) and motor neuron precursors (MNPs), respectively. iNSCs were engrafted into the motor cortex and iNSC-DAPs into the striatum and substantia nigra (SN) of a nonhuman primate, respectively. The surviving iNSCs could respond to the microenvironment of the cortex and spontaneously differentiate into mature neurons that extended neurites. iNSC-DAPs survived well and matured into DA neurons following transplantation into the striatum and SN. iNSC-MNPs could also survive and turn into motor neurons after being engrafted into the spinal cord of rats. The results suggest that iNSCs and derivatives have a potential to be used for the treatment of neurological diseases.