bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, characterization, electrical, and magnetic properties of polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl cellulose blend doped with nickel ferrites nanoparticles for magneto‐electronic devices
Authors: Al‐Sagheer L. A. M. , Rajeh A.
Published: August 2023

Solid polymer electrolytes are an intriguing technology in terms of magneto‐opto electronic applications due to having a high dielectric constant, a small band gap, and excellent magnetic characteristics. In order to improve structural, optical, dielectric, conductivity, and magnetic characteristics, this research seeks to prepare nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles and polyvinylalcohol (PVA)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) films containing NiFe2O4. Nanoparticles of NiFe2O4 are prepared using the co‐precipitation method. The CMC/PVA–NiFe2O4 nanocomposites films are prepared using casting solution. To improve their structural, optical, conductivity, dielectric, and magnetic characteristics, these films electrolytes were examined using XRD, TEM, FT‐IR, UV–vis, and VSM measurements. According to the XRD analysis, the CMC/PVA blend polymer matrix demonstrates a considerable increase in amorphous nature with the NiFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) content, producing a highly flexible polymer backbone, increasing ionic conductivity of the CMC/PVA–NiFe2O4 nanocomposite films. The complexation of dopant cations with the CMC/PVA polymer matrix's backbone is confirmed by the FT‐IR spectroscopy. According to the UV–visible technique, the dopant NiFe2O4 concentration considerably affects the optical energy band gap, and Urbach energy of the pure CMC/PVA. At higher loading, these effects are more pronounced. At room temperature, ac conductivity, the dielectric behavior, and electrical modulus formalism were studied. The blend's highest AC conductivity is 4.77 × 103 S/cm. After increasing the loading of NiFe2O4 to 1.5 wt%, it increased to 8.07 × 104 S/cm. There has also been research on dielectric permittivity and electric modulus to further understand conductivity relaxation and charge storage qualities. The polymer nanocomposite, generally, displayed better optical, dielectric constant, conductivity, and magnetic characteristics compared to pure CMC/PVA being useable in terms of high energy storage nanoelectronics' manufacturing.

Highlights

NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were prepared by using the co‐precipitation method.

Nanocomposite films of CMC/PVA–NiFe2O4 were successfully prepared by casting method.

XRD patterns confirmed the increase in the degree amorphousity for nanocomposites films compare pure blend.

From optical energy gap results for samples prepared was enhanced after addition NiFe2O4.

The dielectric and magnetic properties showed that all nanocomposites films exhibited enhanced as compared to pure CMC/PVA film.
Transcriptome analyses of leaf architecture in Sansevieria support a common genetic toolkit in the parallel evolution of unifacial leaves in monocots
Authors: Golenberg Edward M. , Popadić Aleksandar , Hao Weilong
Published: August 2023

Planar structures dramatically increase the surface‐area‐to‐volume ratio, which is critically important for multicellular organisms. In this study, we utilize naturally occurring phenotypic variation among three Sansivieria species (Asperagaceae) to investigate leaf margin expression patterns that are associated with mediolateral and adaxial/abaxial development. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between center and margin leaf tissues in two planar‐leaf species Sansevieria subspicata and Sansevieria trifasciata and compared these with expression patterns within the cylindrically leaved Sansevieria cylindrica. Two YABBY family genes, homologs of FILAMENTOUS FLOWER and DROOPING LEAF, are overexpressed in the center leaf tissue in the planar‐leaf species and in the tissue of the cylindrical leaves. As mesophyll structure does not indicate adaxial versus abaxial differentiation, increased leaf thickness results in more water‐storage tissue and enhances resistance to aridity. This suggests that the cylindrical‐leaf in S. cylindrica is analogous to the central leaf tissue in the planar‐leaf species. Furthermore, the congruence of the expression patterns of these YABBY genes in Sansevieria with expression patterns found in other unifacial monocot species suggests that patterns of parallel evolution may be the result of similar solutions derived from a limited developmental toolbox.
Cerebrospinal fluid proteins in idiopathic intracranial hypertension: An exploratory SWATH proteomics analysis
Authors: Pandit Awadh Kishor , Misra Shubham , Sengupta Shantanu , Chakraborty Rahul , Singh Praveen , Singh Gyaninder Pal , Phuljhele Swati , Srivastava Achal K. , Vibha Deepti , Garg Ajay , Shankar Vivek , Mohania Dheeraj , Shukla Garima , Prasad Kameshwar
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The pathogenesis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is currently poorly understood. This exploratory study aimed to identify potential cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in IIH cases compared to controls using SWATH‐MS proteomics approach.

Experimental Design

CSF samples were collected prospectively from IIH cases and control subjects which were subjected to SWATH‐MS based untargeted proteomics. Proteins with fold change > 1.5 or < 0.67 and p‐value < 0.05 were considered significantly differentially expressed. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD027751. Statistical analysis was conducted in R version 3.6.2.

Results

We included CSF samples from 33 subjects, consisting of 13 IIH cases and 20 controls. A total of 262 proteins were identified in Proteinpilot search. Through SWATH analysis, we quantified 232 proteins. We observed 37 differentially expressed proteins between the two groups with 24 upregulated and 13 downregulated proteins. There were two differential proteins among overweight versus non‐overweight IIH cases. Network for 23 proteins was highly connected in the interaction analysis.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Neurosecretory, neuroendocrine, and inflammatory proteins were predominantly involved in causing IIH. This exploratory study served as a platform to identify 37 differentially expressed proteins in IIH and also showed significant differences between overweight and non‐overweight IIH patients.
Arginine cluster introduction on framework region in anti‐lysozyme antibody improved association rate constant by changing conformational diversity of CDR loops
Authors: Maeta Shingo , Nakakido Makoto , Matsuura Hiroaki , Sakai Naoki , Hirata Kunio , Kuroda Daisuke , Fukunaga Atsushi , Tsumoto Kouhei
Published: August 2023

Antibodies are used for many therapeutic and biotechnological purposes. Because the affinity of an antibody to the antigen is critical for clinical efficacy of pharmaceuticals, many affinity maturation strategies have been developed. Although we previously reported an affinity maturation strategy in which the association rate of the antibody toward its antigen is improved by introducing a cluster of arginine residues into the framework region of the antibody, the detailed molecular mechanism responsible for this improvement has been unknown. In this study, we introduced five arginine residues into an anti‐hen egg white lysozyme antibody (HyHEL10) Fab fragment to create the R5‐mutant and comprehensively characterized the interaction between antibody and antigen using thermodynamic analysis, X‐ray crystallography, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our results indicate that introduction of charged residues strongly enhanced the association rate, as previously reported, and the antibody–antigen complex structure was almost the same for the R5‐mutant and wild‐type Fabs. The MD simulations indicate that the mutation increased conformational diversity in complementarity‐determining region loops and thereby enhanced the association rate. These observations provide the molecular basis of affinity maturation by R5 mutation.
A critical inter‐subunit interaction for the transmission of the allosteric signal in the Agrobacterium tumefaciensADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase
Authors: Patel Hiral P. , Martinez‐Ramirez Gabriela , Dobrzynski Emily , Iglesias Alberto A. , Liu Dali , Ballicora Miguel A.
Published: August 2023

ADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase is a key regulatory enzyme involved in starch and glycogen synthesis in plants and bacteria, respectively. It has been hypothesized that inter‐subunit communications are important for the allosteric effect in this enzyme. However, no specific interactions have been identified as part of the regulatory signal. The enzyme from Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a homotetramer allosterically regulated by fructose 6‐phosphate and pyruvate. Three pairs of distinct subunit‐subunit interfaces are present. Here we focus on an interface that features two symmetrical interactions between Arg11 and Asp141 from one subunit with residues Asp141 and Arg11 of the neighbor subunit, respectively. Previously, scanning mutagenesis showed that a mutation at the Arg11 position disrupted the activation of the enzyme. Considering the distance of these residues from the allosteric and catalytic sites, we hypothesized that the interaction between Arg11 and Asp141 is critical for allosteric signaling rather than effector binding. To prove our hypothesis, we mutated those two sites (D141A, D141E, D141N, D141R, R11D, and R11K) and performed kinetic and binding analysis. Mutations that altered the charge affected the regulation the most. To prove that the interaction per se (rather than the presence of specific residues) is critical, we partially rescued the R11D protein by introducing a second mutation (R11D/D141R). This could not restore the activator effect on kcat, but it did rescue the effect on substrate affinity. Our results indicate the critical functional role of Arg11 and Asp141 to relay the allosteric signal in this subunit interface.
Fabrication of 1T VS2 Electrode‐Based In‐Plane Micro‐Supercapacitor Using a Cost‐Effective Mask‐Assisted Printing Technique
Authors: Mandal Anuprava , Yadav Ashish Kumar , Pandey Sushil Kumar , Chakrabarti Subhananda
Published: August 2023

Vanadium disulfide (VS2) is an important member of the transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) family, which offers high conductivity. In nature, it can exist in two phases, i.e., 1T and 2H. Herein, the metallic 1T VS2‐based in‐plane micro‐supercapacitor (MSC) is fabricated by a facile‐mask‐assisted printing technique. Initially, the 1T VS2 nanosheets are synthesized using a simple one‐pot hydrothermal route. The material characterizations have claimed the formation of a 1T phase and the density of states (DOS) reveal that the 1T phase of VS2 is metallic in nature. After experimental and theoretical investigations of synthesized nanosheets, a VS2 electrode‐based in‐plane MSC is fabricated using a simple mask‐assisted printing technique. The fabricated device demonstrates excellent capacitance retention of 97.6% after 1000 cycles of cyclic voltammetry measurement at a 100 mV s−1 scan rate. The device also shows an excellent areal capacitance of 212.7 mF cm−2 and a high areal energy density of 10.63 μWh cm−2 at a high‐power density of 4.45 mW cm−2. This low‐cost and simple fabrication process can produce high‐performance in‐plane MSC devices.
The influence of synoptic wind on land–sea breezes
Authors: Allouche Mohammad , Bou‐Zeid Elie , Iipponen Juho
Published: August 2023

Particularly challenging classes of heterogeneous surfaces are ones where strong secondary circulations are generated, potentially dominating the flow dynamics. In this study, we focus on land–sea breeze (LSB) circulations resulting from surface thermal contrasts, in the presence of increasing synoptic pressure forcing. The relative importance and orientation of the thermal and synoptic forcings are measured through two dimensionless parameters: a heterogeneity Richardson number (measuring the relative strength of geostrophic wind and convection induced by buoyancy), and the angle α between the shore and geostrophic wind. Large‐eddy simulations reveal the emergence of various regimes where the dynamics are asymmetric with respect to α. Along‐shore cases result in deep LSBs similar to the scenario with no synoptic background, irrespective of the geostrophic wind strength. Across‐shore simulations exhibit a circulation cell that decreases in height with increasing synoptic forcing. However, at the highest synoptic winds simulated, the circulation cell is advected away with sea‐to‐land winds, while a shallow circulation persists for land‐to‐sea cases. Scaling analysis that relates the internal parameters Qshore (net shore volumetric flux) and qshore (net shore advected kinematic heat flux) to the external input parameters results in a succinct model of the shore fluxes that also helps explain the physical implications of the identified LSBs. Finally, the vertical profiles of the shore‐normal velocity and shore‐advected heat flux are used, with the aid of k‐means clustering, to independently classify the LSBs into four regimes (canonical, sea‐driven, land‐driven, and advected), corroborating our visual categorization.
AMINO: A quality assessment framework for modeling ecosystems
Authors: Di Ruscio Davide , Iovino Ludovico , Pierantonio Alfonso
Published: August 2023

Models are core assets in Model‐Driven Engineering (MDE). They are pervasively used throughout software development processes to leverage automation, increase cost‐effectiveness, and enhance quality factors. Model repositories have been successfully proposed to enforce reuse and elicit correlations among modeling artifacts, enabling storing operations on model‐based artifacts and collaborative modeling features. Maintaining and improving the quality of modeling artifacts is mandatory for software quality scale‐ups. Limiting the exploration of datasets and repositories of models to individual artifacts might reduce the ability to capture insights and reuse opportunities. This paper proposes AMINO, an analytics tool for model repositories supporting the discovery and quality evaluation of modeling ecosystems.
Approaching Ohmic Contacts for Ideal Monolayer MoS2 Transistors Through Sulfur‐Vacancy Engineering
Authors: Xiao Jiankun , Chen Kuanglei , Zhang Xiankun , Liu Xiaozhi , Yu Huihui , Gao Li , Hong Mengyu , Gu Lin , Zhang Zheng , Zhang Yue
Published: August 2023

Field‐effect transistors (FETs) made of monolayer 2D semiconductors (e.g., MoS2) are among the basis of the future modern wafer chip industry. However, unusually high contact resistances at the metal‐semiconductor interfaces have seriously limited the improvement of monolayer 2D semiconductor FETs so far. Here, a high‐scale processable strategy is reported to achieve ohmic contact between the metal and monolayer MoS2 with a large number of sulfur vacancies (SVs) by using simple sulfur‐vacancy engineering. Due to the successful doping of the contact regions by introducing SVs, the contact resistance of monolayer MoS2 FET is as low as 1.7 kΩ·µm. This low contact resistance enables high‐performance MoS2 FETs with ultrahigh carrier mobility of 153 cm2 V−1 s−1, a large on/off ratio of 4 × 109, and high saturation current of 342 µA µm−1. With the comprehensive investigation of different SV concentrations by adjusting the plasma duration, it is also demonstrated that the SV‐increased electron doping, with its resulting reduced Schottky barrier, is the dominant factor driving enhanced electrical performance. The work provides a simple method to promote the development of industrialized atomically thin integrated circuits.
In‐tube solid‐phase microextraction (sulfopropyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate monolithic capillary) coupled to LC–MS/MS to determine beta amyloid peptides in Alzheimer's cerebrospinal fluid samples
Authors: Grecco Caroline Fernandes , Tumas Vitor , Hallak Jaime Eduardo Cecilio , Queiroz Maria Eugênia Costa
Published: August 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by an extracellular accumulation of amyloid beta peptides in the brain. The concentration of the amyloid beta peptides in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been evaluated as potential biomarkers of AD for early diagnostic. In this work, an in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction (in‐tube SPME) coupled to UHPLC–MS/MS method was established to determine amyloid beta peptides in CSF samples from AD patients. A strong cation‐exchange (sulfopropyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) monolithic capillary was synthesized on the inner surface of a fused silica capillary and used as an extractive phase for in‐tube SPME. The morphology and chemical structure of the monolithic phase were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The proposed method presented linear range from the lower limits of quantification 0.6 and 0.8 to 10 ng mL−1. Excluding the lower limits of quantification values, the analytical validation showed precision with the coefficient of variation values lower than 13.1%, and accuracy with relative standard deviation lower than 13.5%. The in‐tube SPME coupled to UHPLC–MS/MS method was successfully applied to determine amyloid beta peptides in CSF samples from AD patients.
Structure–Activity Relationship in Microstructure Design for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Applications
Authors: Du Jiani , Li Tian , Xu Zhengkang , Tang Jingyuan , Qi Qing , Meng Fanbin
Published: August 2023

Microwave absorbing materials (MAMs) are materials that effectively absorb incident electromagnetic (EM) wave energy, reducing reflection and scattering. They play a crucial role in enhancing electronic reliability, healthcare, and defense security. However, traditional MAMs like ferrites, magnetic metals, and polymers possess certain limitations, including low impedance matching, narrow absorption bandwidth, poor chemical stability, and high filling ratio, which hinder their further development. To address the requirements of lightweight, wideband, and high‐efficiency absorption, precise structural design has emerged as a captivating research focus. Additionally, comprehending the structure–property relationships between these unique microstructures and EM response and loss mechanisms still poses significant challenges. Herein, a comprehensive review of MAMs is presented with varied structural designs encompassing various scales, providing a detailed introduction of the relationship between various potential structural designs of MAMs and their corresponding EM characteristics and loss mechanisms. Moreover, EM theoretical calculation models, characterization, and analysis methods are discussed. Finally, the article proposes the challenges and prospects for the development of structural design EM wave absorbers.
Neurodevelopmental outcome in complicated twin pregnancy: prospective observational study
Authors: Prasad S. , Beg S. , Badran D. , Masciullo L. , Huddy C. , Khalil A.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Twin pregnancy is associated with increased perinatal mortality and morbidity, but long‐term neurodevelopmental outcome remains underinvestigated. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of adverse neurodevelopment after 1 year of age in complicated monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies compared with uncomplicated twin pregnancies.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study conducted at St George's University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Women with a twin pregnancy culminating in at least one surviving child, aged between 12 and 60 months (corrected for prematurity) at the time of assessment, were invited to complete the relevant Ages and Stages Questionnaire® version 3 (ASQ‐3) test. The two study groups were: (1) complicated MCDA twin pregnancies, including those with twin–twin transfusion syndrome, twin anemia–polycythemia sequence, selective fetal growth restriction, twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence and/or single intrauterine demise; and (2) uncomplicated MCDA and dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies. The primary outcome measure was an abnormal ASQ‐3 score, defined as a score of more than 2 SD below the mean in any one of the five domains. Mixed‐effects multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether a complicated MCDA twin pregnancy was associated independently with an abnormal ASQ‐3 score.

Results

The study included 174 parents who completed the questionnaire for one or both twins; therefore, 327 ASQ‐3 questionnaires were available for analysis. Of those, 117 (35.8%) were complicated MCDA twin pregnancies and 210 (64.2%) were controls. The overall rate of an abnormal ASQ‐3 score in children born of a complicated MCDA twin pregnancy was nearly double that of those from uncomplicated twin pregnancies (14.5% vs 7.6%; P = 0.056). Children born of a complicated MCDA twin pregnancy had a significantly higher rate of impairment in the gross‐motor domain compared with the control group (8.5% vs 2.9%; P = 0.031). Complicated MCDA twin pregnancies that underwent prenatal intervention had a significantly higher rate of abnormal ASQ‐3 score compared with those that did not undergo prenatal intervention (28.1% vs 1.7%; P < 0.001). On multilevel logistic regression analysis, complicated MCDA twin pregnancy was an independent predictor of abnormal ASQ‐3 score (adjusted odds ratio, 3.28 (95% CI, 3.27–3.29); P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that survivors of complicated MCDA twin pregnancies have a higher rate of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome, independently of prematurity. Long‐term neurodevelopmental follow‐up in these pregnancies can ensure timely and optimal management of those affected. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Imaging characteristics of multiple unusual urogenital abnormalities in an incontinent dog
Authors: Coelho Margarida , Peschard Anne‐Lorraine , Owen Laura
Published: August 2023

A 10‐month‐old, female, neutered Rottweiler was referred for further investigation of lifelong urinary incontinence. On abdominal ultrasonography, the urinary bladder was empty with asymmetrical wall thickening. Cystoscopy revealed a wide and short tubular connection from the vestibule to a poorly distensible bladder, with no distinct identifiable urethral papilla or urethra. The ureters were observed opening into what was thought to be the bladder trigone, but a third opening was additionally noted cranial to the ureterovesical junctions. A hypoplastic urethra and a stenotic vaginal opening were found on a fluoroscopic retrograde vaginourethrocystogram. Histopathology of bladder wall biopsies revealed mild neutrophilic inflammation. The urinary incontinence was attributed to a combination of severe anatomic abnormalities. No treatment was pursued.
Virtual snow stakes: a new method for snow depth measurement at remote camera stations
Authors: Strickfaden Kaitlyn M. , Behan Marnie L. , Marshall Adrienne M. , Svancara Leona K. , Ausband David E. , Link Timothy E.
Published: August 2023

Remote cameras are used to study demographics, ecological processes, and behavior of wildlife populations. Cameras have also been used to measure snow depth with physical snow stakes. However, concerns that physical instruments at camera sites may influence animal behavior limit installation of instruments to facilitate collecting such data. Given that snow depth data are inherently contained within images, potential insights that could be made using these data are lost. To facilitate camera‐based snow depth observations without additional equipment installation, we developed a method implemented in an R package called edger to superimpose virtual measurement devices onto images. The virtual snow stakes can be used to derive snow depth measurements. We validated the method for snow depth estimation using camera data from Latah County, Idaho, USA in winter 2020–2021. Mean bias error between the virtual snow stake and a physical snow stake was 5.8 cm; the mean absolute bias error was 8.8 cm. The mean Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency score comparing the fit of the 2 sets of measurements within each camera was 0.748, indicating good agreement. The edger package provides researchers with a means to take critical measurements for ecological studies without the use of physical objects that could alter animal behavior, and snow data at finer scales can complement other snow data sources that have coarser spatial and temporal resolution.
The NOW Database of Fossil Mammals
Authors: Žliobaitė Indrė , Fortelius Mikael , Bernor Raymond L. , van den Hoek Ostende Lars W. , Janis Christine M. , Lintulaakso Kari , Säilä Laura K. , Werdelin Lars , Casanovas-Vilar Isaac , Croft Darin A. , Flynn Lawrence J. , Hopkins Samantha S. B. , Kaakinen Anu , Kordos László , Kostopoulos Dimitris S. , Pandolfi Luca , Rowan John , Tesakov Alexey , Vislobokova Innessa , Zhang Zhaoqun , Aiglstorfer Manuela , Alba David M. , Arnal Michelle , Antoine Pierre-Olivier , Belmaker Miriam , Bilgin Melike , Boisserie Jean-Renaud , Borths Matthew R. , Cooke Siobhán B. , van Dam Jan A. , Delson Eric , Eronen Jussi T. , Fox David , Friscia Anthony R. , Furió Marc , Giaourtsakis Ioannis X. , Holbrook Luke , Hunter John , López-Torres Sergi , Ludtke Joshua , Minwer-Barakat Raef , van der Made Jan , Mennecart Bastien , Pushkina Diana , Rook Lorenzo , Saarinen Juha , Samuels Joshua X. , Sanders William , Silcox Mary T. , Vepsäläinen Jouni
Published: August 2023

NOW (New and Old Worlds) is a global database of fossil mammal occurrences, currently containing around 68,000 locality-species entries. The database spans the last 66 million years, with its primary focus on the last 23 million years. Whereas the database contains records from all continents, the main focus and coverage of the database historically has been on Eurasia. The database includes primarily, but not exclusively, terrestrial mammals. It covers a large part of the currently known mammalian fossil record, focusing on classical and actively researched fossil localities. The database is managed in collaboration with an international advisory board of experts. Rather than a static archive, it emphasizes the continuous integration of new knowledge of the community, data curation, and consistency of scientific interpretations. The database records species occurrences at localities worldwide, as well as ecological characteristics of fossil species, geological contexts of localities and more. The NOW database is primarily used for two purposes: (1) queries about occurrences of particular taxa, their characteristics and properties of localities in the spirit of an encyclopedia; and (2) large scale research and quantitative analyses of evolutionary processes, patterns, reconstructing past environments, as well as interpreting evolutionary contexts. The data are fully open, no logging in or community membership is necessary for using the data for any purpose.
Actor Roles in Research–Practice Relationships: Equality in Policy–Practice Nexuses
Authors: Prøitz Tine S. , Rye Ellen
Published: August 2023

This chapter offers insights into an education policy–practice nexus operationalised in a recent nationwide government initiative for the development of solid and stable research–practice relationships (RPRs) in education. Among the main challenges for productive RPRs are physical, linguistic, work-related, financial and cultural distances, which characterise and separate education research and education practice. Governments and universities alike have introduced initiatives aimed at strengthening these relationships through practitioner involvement in education research. Although practitioner involvement in research is not new, today’s expectations of newer ways of working collaboratively in education research bring forward several issues regarding the roles of the actors involved. In this chapter, we study and discuss the roles of practitioners in successful RPRs and the requirements for developing ownership and relevance in these research collaborations. The analysis shows that the equality issue of practitioners and researchers in RPRs is more of an epistemological question regarding how practitioner knowledge and researcher knowledge are activated in relationships rather than a practical question of how practitioners can become more involved in research work.
The Policy-Practice Nexus as ‘Politics of Use’: Professional Autonomy and Teacher Agency in the Classroom
Authors: Schulte Barbara
Published: August 2023

This chapter approaches the policy-practice nexus by scrutinizing the relationship between teacher agency and professional autonomy. Teacher agency has usually been researched from two different perspectives. On one side, scholars are concerned with questions of professional autonomy vis-à-vis specific accountability regimes, and apply, in the broadest sense, a governance framework. On the other, there is a more normatively grounded discussion of professional autonomy, emphasizing how teachers, due to various new forms of (neo-liberal) governance, become increasingly de-professionalized. While acknowledging both perspectives, this chapter questions the conflation of professional autonomy with teacher agency. Drawing on the concept of the ‘politics of use’ and findings from fieldwork in China, the chapter proposes a framework for conceptualizing autonomy and agency as they operate in and between systems, involving and producing different types of agents. The chapter’s findings suggest that the ways in which policy implementation processes have been conceptualized need to be reconsidered. Particular attention must be paid to the political-ideological and normative specificities of both the investigated policy system and of the investigator’s own research traditions, to ensure that policy implementation processes can be compared across a broad variety of cases.
The Curriculum as a Standard of Public Education
Authors: Hopmann Stefan
Published: August 2023

This contribution first searches for historical and empirical evidence for whether and how curricula act or acted as a measure of public education. The problem is explicated on account of a short history of curriculum work and distinguished in a analytical, a political, programmatical and practical discourse of curriculum work. Curriculum work always underlies premises of planning, learning and effects. Three models are finally developed and brought in touch with the different discourses. Curriculum work proves to be an attempt to make publicly acceptable the empirically impossible accountability of schools.
Exploring Education Policy Transformations and Agency in a Postcolonial Context: The Case of Launching the Preparation Scheme in Greenland in 1961
Authors: Holleufer Simon , Ydesen Christian
Published: August 2023

Using the prisms of post-colonial history together with the theoretical concepts of policy instruments and uploading and downloading, this chapter investigates how different actors in different arenas of the Danish-Greenlandic education system have emerged, interacted, and struggled to shape and develop policies and practices. The chapter focuses on a particular policy instrument called ‘the Preparation Scheme’ [præparandarrangementet] which was launched in 1961 and remained in operation until 1976. The purpose of the scheme was to identify promising Greenlandic children and send them on a one-year school stay in Denmark to boost their Danish language skills and prepare them as spearheads for the modernization of Greenland according to a Danish development trajectory. Analytically, the chapter explores the historical compositions of actors inhabiting the arenas in Copenhagen, Nuuk and the Greenlandic school districts in 1961 when the policy instrument was launched, and it investigates the emergence of policy–practice nexuses revolving around such a new policy instrument. The chapter finds that a conducive environment for the enactment of the preparation scheme ranging from the centre to the periphery eventually came into existence. This environment was conditioned on the alignment of cultural scripts between Copenhagen and Nuuk, positioning Greenland as an object of a modernization process. In this way, the chapter adds to our knowledge about how a policy instrument is recontextualized in a downloading and subsequent uploading process in a post-colonial context.
Merging Traditions and Emerging Tensions
Authors: Aasen Petter , Prøitz Tine S.
Published: August 2023

The development of teacher professionalism is contextualised in timely and spatial configurations. Historically educational policy and reforms have influenced the development of the teaching profession. In this chapter we discuss how educational policy and reforms in primary and secondary education and teacher education have influenced the construction of the teacher profession in Norway. We limit our examination of this policy—practice nexus starting from the end of the nineteenth century. In analysing policies and politics that have shaped developments of the teaching profession, we focus on three nexuses or connections crucial in any analysis of professional development: Policies influencing (1) the organization of arenas for professional development, (2) the steering, management and organisation of the professional field and occupational practice and (3) the professional knowledge, skills, and standards. We argue that different knowledge regimes in educational policy historically have influenced the construction of the teacher profession and laid foundations for new forms of differentiation within the teaching profession. To meet emerging tensions and new forms of differentiation, the challenge seems to be how teacher education can strengthen research-based and value-based professionalism and how teacher training can ensure that the profession is developing a coherent conceptual framework, a common language, a unified theory, an intellectual community, and a frame of reference for value-based and evidence-informed reflection and action.
The Power of Consumers on Social Media: A Case Study of Balenciaga’s Crisis Communication
Authors: Gárgoles Paula , Ambás Gabriela
Published: August 2023

The French luxury brand, Balenciaga, recently faced its most important communication crisis. On November 16th 2022, the brand released its holiday gifting campaign featuring children surrounded by sadomasochism-inspired teddy bears/handbags and received immediate backlash from the public, who accused the brand of sexualizing children and promoting pedophilia. The outrage went viral on social media - mainly on Tiktok - with the hashtags #burnbalenciaga and #cancelbalenciaga, which have accumulated more than 300 million views. Balenciaga suffered an incalculable damage on its reputation, having two flagship stores vandalized and a viral online boycott. This investigation follows the case study methodology, by analyzing the timeline of events, the brand’s statements and response, the viral effect of the boycott on social media and the ultimate affectations that the brand underwent due to the crisis. The conclusions reveal that on one hand there are some social anethical boundaries that not even well-positioned and beloved brands can afford to cross, and that slow, unclear and unaccountable answers compose a terrible strategy of crisis management, and on the other hand, the power of consumers on social media has gained enough strength to damage brands like Balenciaga.
How Swiss Watchmaking Brands are Communicating Made in Switzerland
Authors: Rech Alina , Noris Alice , Sabatini Nadzeya
Published: August 2023

Country-of-origin indications, also called “made in” labeling [35], are utilized in marketing strategies by companies to distinguish themselves from others, trying to associate their products with positive characteristics [9].

Swiss watchmaking companies have an iconic status that is essential to their reputation - mainly due to their high quality, precision, innovation, and craftsmanship [7]. They are also using country-of-origin information as a competitive advantage in their communication strategies [11].

Although people have become acquainted with the “Swiss-made” label, and numerous studies have been dedicated to diverse Swiss watchmaking field topics [26], a significant research gap exists regarding the understanding of what are the “made in Switzerland” communication strategies and how Swiss watchmaking brands are using them. This study aims to examine how country-of-origin symbols - considering Swiss made related terms - and watchmaking-related words are employed by analyzing the official communication of thirty Swiss watchmaking brands.
Homo Consumens, Amidst Advertising and ‘Sports’ Fast Fashion. The Role of Ethics in Marking Out the Vulnerability of Consumers
Authors: Neri Veronica
Published: August 2023

Nowadays, with the Internet and the algorithmic machines, not only has fashion advertising become ubiquitous and engaging, advertising media has also become a paragon for other communicative languages. The relationship between fashion and advertising has certainly implemented the sales and visibility of lots of brands but it has also boosted consumerism as a guide for our buying decisions. Such consumerism-centred phenomenon has paved the way to the development and success of fast fashion, making people free to experiment with their own identity and suggesting new choice criteria. Such a dimension will be brought into focus by exploring the advertising of (fast) fashion for the promotion of psychophysical wellbeing. Post pandemic crisis and the strengthening of people’s central role and responsibility in personal and collective health, a lot more attention has been paid to wellbeing and therefore to body care. Some areas of fashion have tapped into the new vulnerabilities of today’s consumers and have boosted not just the consumption of goods and activities that promote psychophysical wellbeing, but also a lifestyle that is about not “consuming” the body and opting instead for long-term wellbeing, thus prompting people to reflect on the role of fashion experiences and on their own choices in a conscious, self-directed way.
Exploring Symbolic Effect of New Media: The Impact of Bilibili on Gen Z’s Cohort Identity and Aesthetic Choices in Fashion
Authors: Peng Hsin-Pey
Published: August 2023

This study examines Bilibili, a leading video community for Generation Z in China, known as ‘B-site’. The paper proposes a conceptual framework to explore how the platform provides entertainment features that enable Gen Z users to establish digital connections with the internet. The study aims to explore that Bilibili's unique features, such as barrage culture, user- generated content, interest-based communities, and differentiated content, have facilitated the formation of a strong sense of community among its users. This has influenced their cultural decision-making in fashion aesthetics and beyond. The paper draws on qualitative data generated culturally from, statistical information, and digital-field surveys to provide insights into Bilibili's rise and impact on Chinese youth culture. The study found that Bilibili grown from an ACG niche video channel has become a prevalent application in the daily lives of Chinese youth, forming a Gen-Z cultural community and defining ‘their fashion’.
Virgil Abolh’s Cinematic Fashion Shows for Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Collections on YouTube
Authors: Luque-Zequeira Natalia , Torregrosa Marta
Published: August 2023

The mediatization of fashion explores the ways in which fashion practices (production, consumption, distribution and dissemination) are articulated and depend on the logic of digital media. The aim of this research is to show that in addition to the changes that the traditional fashion show has undergone due to the influence of mediatization, other effects are emerging, such as the appearance of autonomous audiovisual productions on YouTube, characterized by a narrative expansion of the curatorial purpose of the collection. The paper analyzes the case of Virgil Abloh’s film productions for the presentation of Louis Vuitton’s men’s collections.
Rethinking Fashion Storytelling Through Digital Archives and Immersive Museum Experiences
Authors: Andò Romana , Briatore Samuele , Denaro Gianni
Published: August 2023

The Italian fashion system is represented by a wide and valuable heritage that needs to be properly preserved and experienced by everybody, from fashion students to scholars, artisans and designers, etc. Although in the last decades there have been many attempts to create a museum dedicated specifically to Italian fashion, in the end, institutions or museums have not been able to carry out a valuable and accomplished project. One fundamental reason is represented by the Italian specificities in terms of the fashion-industry evolution and, more in general, by the complexity of the fashion system which has been built and continues to grow at the crossroads between different experiences, practices, and relations. As such, it has been studied from diverse disciplines and approaches ranging from art to design, from economics to sociology of culture, and so on. Moreover, when considering both the intangible and tangible fashion heritage, gathering them in order to preserve and share them becomes extremely difficult. The challenge is therefore to understand how to collect, preserve, and enjoy this heritage, combining the cultural pluralism of local traditions and their products, together with the creativity of artists and designers and the economic aspects of the industry, relating them all with the cultural and social features of everyday life-fashion. The aim of this paper is to address these issues starting from the preliminary reflections of the PNRR project (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza, National Recovery and Resilience Plan) “Cultural heritage active innovation for next-gen sustainable society”, (CHANGES aims at promoting interdisciplinary research and inter-sectorial synergies to support the development of innovative long-term strategies for the interpretation, understanding, conservation, and valorization of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The extended partnership is composed of 11 Universities, 4 Research Institutions, 3 Advanced Studies Schools, 6 Companies, and 1 Center of Excellence (see https://sites.google.com/uniroma1.it/changes/home).) in order to discuss in detail the Spoke 2, “Creativity and Intangible Heritage” thematic line on fashion preservation and its musealization as developed by the authors of this essay.
Metartisanry: Fashion, Metaverse, and the Future of Artisanry in Brazil
Authors: de Gois Miruna Raimundi , Novelli Daniela , da Rosa Lucas
Published: August 2023

This article reflects on the future of artisanry in the context of the Metaverse in Brazil, considering artisanry relationship with fashion. Hence, the Metaverse is described through NFTs, blockchain, as well as avatars and cyborgs. Then, artisanry, especially in Brazil, and its relationship with fashion in contemporaneity are described. This study aimed to answer the following research question: considering the profile of Brazilian artisans, how would their artisanal production adapt to the Metaverse? To achieve the results, we used bibliographic, descriptive, and qualitative research to analyze the literature and to develop discussions based on distinctive ways of building objects in virtual universes. We concluded that artisans will have to develop interdisciplinary skills linked to computerized technology to remain competitive in the market, added to investments and stimuli from public and private institutions.
Metaverse and Its Communication. The Future is Here. True or False?
Authors: Winterhalter Cecilia
Published: August 2023

This text analyses the metaverse: its definitions and concepts, its meaning and impact; digital art, fashion and their communication; its performance issues, its failures, and criticism. It compares existing metaverse definitions and concepts, evaluates of their advantages and disadvantages, their chance of coming true, their present degree of evolution. Closer looks are dedicated to the influence of a virtual space on art and fashion, their communication and dissemination and to the metaverse failures, problems, and criticism. Not only the metaverse technology, but also its intended innovation of communication, work, education, healthcare, business, products, and social interactions, suffer from performance, quality and security issues. Today, irreconcilable visions of the metaverse coexist: a valuable, socially useful metaverse and a consumer and entertainment metaverse. It is impossible to predict the future, but any virtual world concept will have to solve these critical issues. Not the metaverse, but the greatest crisis of our times (with climate change, pandemic, war, economic crisis) is altering the products and their communication, undermining the luxury, fashion and art sector. It is changing the value of identity and producing a paradigm shift. Something must end, to allow the growth of something new: because change is life.
How Do Luxury Brands Utilize NFTs to Enhance Their Brand Image?
Authors: Ferrini Giulia , Huber Sebastian , Batt Verena
Published: August 2023

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have witnessed unprecedented dynamism over the recent years with only few luxury brands experimenting with the technology albeit the very personal characteristics of NFT ownership. Little is known about how luxury brands use NFTs to develop their brand image and what opportunities luxury brands anticipate from NFTs as a new technology, digital product category or customer relationship channel. The present research note offers an applied research design to tackle these questions and systematically understand the potential of NFTs for personal luxury brands at large.
The Perks of Being Digital. Nikeland: A Case Study
Authors: Temperino Erika
Published: August 2023

The increasing digitalization of consumer behavior and lives has created both opportunities and challenges for fashion brands seeking to engage with their audience. This paper aims to reflect on the perks of being digital for fashion companies, through the observation of Nikeland platform on Roblox as a case study for more general considerations. The paper begins by providing an overview of the current digital landscape and the increasingly marked need for brands to create a more engaging relationship with their customers. Two sections will be devoted to the case study, one for the description of the platform, resulting from a personal observation of this, and one for the critical discussion of the characteristics and advantages highlighted. In the conclusion section there will be a further discussion about the potential benefits derived from the use of a new digital business model and how, however, it is necessary to give priority to transparency and authenticity in this process towards users-customers.
Vertex operator algebras and topologically twisted Chern-Simons-matter theories
Authors: Garner Niklas
Published: August 2023

Abstract

We consider several topologically twisted Chern-Simons-matter theories and propose boundary VOAs whose module categories should model the category of line operators of the 3d bulk. Our main examples come from the topological A and B twists of the exotic $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 Chern-Simons-matter theories of Gaiotto-Witten, but we show that there is a topological “A-twist” for a much larger class of $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
≠ 4 theories. We illustrate a particular example of this new class of theories that admits the p = 2 singlet VOA $$ \mathfrak{M} $$
M
(2) on its boundary and comment on its relation to the ψ → ∞ limit of the Gaiotto-Rapčák corner VOA Y1,1,0[ψ].