bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcultural perspectives in Teaching Children's Horror Films
Authors: Kovanen Marjo , Kotilainen Sirkku
Published: December 2021

Transcultural perspective has recently raised more academic attention due to the internationalization of higher education and migration all over the globe. Thus the objective of the paper is to open the discussion on film education, especially teaching children’s horror films from the transcultural perspectives through an empirical case study among university students in media education. We concentrate on students attitudes and perception on children´s horror from the perspective of film education. Our question is, how to increase the students understanding of children´s horror culture and pedagogies related to it? The paper consists of the first research results based on the course including lecturers’ research diaries, students' interviews, their film life studies and practical assignments such as films made during the two-week workshop.

 

The preliminary results show that the perceptions and attitudes vary a lot depending on cultural backgrounds. Students’ pre-understandings of film culture and film literacy as a pedagogical practice mostly were professional-oriented and colored with the aesthetic perception on film. The most visible impact of the course was the minds-opening for wider understanding of film as education and uses of film in teaching. Taking up the aspects of children´s horror in the course was surprising, even irrelevant to students: they didn´t expect this kind of perspective at all. As a result the course was able to create open, safe spaces for reflection and changing students’ mindsets. Based on the results, situated approaches to film education is suggested to reinforce multiliteracy model with creation of safe space for discussion and supplementing emotional skills.
How to trigger students’ interest in digital learning environments: A systematic literature review
Authors: Sun Liping P. , Siklander Pirkko , Ruokamo Heli
Published: December 2021

The digital revolution and globalization have a deep influence on education at all levels. Various digital devices do not only provide students’ Internet connections, but also create more opportunities for them to get inspired, motivated, and engaged in learning activities. Recent research shows that triggering interest can enhance students’ self-regulation, collaboration, problem-solving, and joy of learning. Previous studies show that the pedagogical use of information and communication technology (ICT) can support student-centered and collaborative learning, and develop thinking skills and creativity. However, little is known about the relevance of digital technologies for triggering interest. The aim of this study is to review existing literature in the field of the learning sciences, and provide answers for the following two research questions: 1) Which factors trigger students’ interest in ICT-based learning environments? 2) Which methods have been used for exploring triggers? The systematic literature review (SLR) methodology will be used in this study. The results will be used for developing new research for exploring triggers that can awaken students’ interest in learning. The findings will be useful for researchers and teachers to discover appropriate methods and approaches in successful integration of ICT in learning environments and the teaching process.
Digitally Competent School Organizations – Developing Supportive Organizational Infrastructures
Authors: Pettersson Fanny
Published: December 2021

While research on digital competences so far has focused on the level of single actors (teachers, pupils, and school leaders), a growing but occasionally overlooked field of research looks at school-level competences when promoting digitalization and educational change. The aim of this study is to explore how schools structure their organizations, institutional infrastructure, and activities as conditions for digitalization. The study relies on interviews with school leaders and educational technologists from five upper secondary schools with extensive experience in digitalization and remote teaching. By using three categories, namely setting the direction, developing people, and developing the organization, as an analytical framework, this study identifies two types of digitally competent school organizations: goal- and structure-oriented schools and culture-oriented schools. This study’s insights serve as a point of departure for understanding the different ways schools can organize themselves to become comprehensive, stable, and digitally competent organizations and for understanding important challenges related to this process.
Digital transformation in Swedish schools – Principals’ strategic leadership and organisation of tablet-based one-to-one computing initiatives
Authors: Mårell-Olsson Eva , Bergström Peter
Published: December 2021

This paper reports on a research study about principals’ strategic leadership and organisation of schools within established tablet-based one-to-one computing initiatives. The aim was to investigate how principals lead and guide one-to-one computing initiatives in K–12 education. The research questions focused on principals’ expressed intentions and their strategic leadership and organisation when implementing tablet-based one-to-one computing initiatives in Swedish schools. The empirical material was collected through semi-structured interviews with seven principals in five municipalities where the schools had used tablets for more than six months within a one-to-one computing initiative. The findings are organised by themes concerning one-to-one computing as a strategy to change teaching and working methods, using technology for adapting teaching and learning to every pupil’s needs, and strategies for organisation. The findings show that marketisation of schools (e.g. the school-choice reform) in combination with the annual presentation of national rankings have had an impact on the financial situations of schools because they receive a voucher for every attending pupil. The participating principals’ strategic leadership concerning their intentions and applied strategies on how to lead and organise the digitalised school are an attempt to meet the demands that the marketisation and digitalisation of Swedish schools requires.
Digitally competent schools: teacher expectations when introducing digital competence in Finnish basic education
Authors: Mannila Linda
Published: December 2021

The increased exposure to technology raises a need for understanding how the digital world works, just as we learn about the physical world. As a result, countries all over the world are renewing their school curricula in order to include digital competence, computer science or other similar content. In this paper, we provide insight into what teachers see as crucial aspects when implementing a new curricula introducing digital competence as a transversal element. We have analysed 86 Finnish teachers’ descriptions of digitally competent schools and digitally competent personnel, in order to identify a list of prerequisites that can be helpful to school leaders who are to drive the change at their local schools.
Teachers as users of ICT from the student perspective in higher education flipped classroom classes
Authors: Sointu Erkko T. , Valtonen Teemu , Hirsto Laura , Kankaanpää Jenni , Saarelainen Markku , Mäkitalo Kati , Smits Anneke , Manninen Jyri
Published: December 2021

The use of information and communication technology (ICT) is important in today’s higher education. ICT has a central role in the skill set students are expected to master during their studies. The fast development of technology poses both possibilities and challenges for teachers. This paper is part of a larger project aimed at implementing the flipped classroom (FC) model and supporting ICT integration in higher education. In this project, teachers receive systematic support for implementing the FC model. The aim of this paper is to investigate how students assess their teachers’ knowledge of pedagogy, content and technology before and after a course using the FC model. In total, 317 students responded to the pre-post-test surveys. The data were analyzed as a single group and separately for students in different year groups. Results indicate that there are statistically significant differences between the results of the pre- and post-tests. Students assess their teachers content-specific pedagogical skills and technological pedagogical skills in teaching their subject higher after the FC courses. Students also perceived their teachers as having more positive attitudes to using technology in teaching. It was found that the difference was more apparent in second-year and higher students. Students perceived FC positively in general.
Ploidy level enhances the photosynthetic capacity of a tetraploid variety of Acer buergerianum Miq.
Authors: Wang Yi , Jia Bingyu , Ren Hongjian , Feng Zhen
Published: December 2021

Background

Polyploidy plays an important role in plant breeding and has widespread effects on photosynthetic capacity. To determine the photosynthetic capacity of the tetraploid variety Acer buergerianum Miq. ‘Xingwang’, we compared the gas exchange parameters, chloroplast structure, chlorophyll contents, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters between the tetraploid Acer buergerianum ‘Xingwang’ and the diploid ‘S4’. To evaluate the effects of genome duplication on the photosynthetic capacity of Acer buergerianum ‘Xingwang’, the transcriptomes of the autotetraploid ‘Xingwang’ and the diploid ‘S4’ of A. buergerianum were compared.

Methods

The ploidy of Acer buergerianum ‘Xingwang’ was identified by flow cytometry and the chromosome counting method. An LI-6800 portable photosynthesis system analyzer was used to assess the gas exchange parameters of the tetraploid variety ‘Xingwang’ and diploid variety ‘S4’ of A. buergerianum. We used a BioMate 3S ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and portable modulated fluorometer to measure the chlorophyll contents and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, respectively, of ‘Xingwang’ and ‘S4’. Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology was used to identify the differences in the genes involved in the photosynthetic differences and determine their expression characteristics.

Results

The single-cell DNA content and chromosome number of the tetraploid ‘Xingwang’ were twice those found in the normal diploid ‘S4’. In terms of gas exchange parameters, the change in stomatal conductance, change in intercellular CO2 concentration, transpiration rate and net photosynthetic rate of ‘Xingwang’ were higher than those of the diploid ‘S4’. The chlorophyll contents, the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII and the potential photochemical efficiency of PSII in ‘Xingwang’ were higher than those of ‘S4’. The chloroplasts of ‘Xingwang’ contained thicker thylakoid lamellae. By the use of Illumina sequencing technology, a total of 51,807 unigenes were obtained; they had an average length of 1,487 nt, and the average N50 was 2,034 nt. The lengths of most of the unigenes obtained ranged from 200–300 bp, with an average value of 5,262, followed by those longer than 3,000 bp, with an average value of 4,791. The data revealed numerous differences in gene expression between the two transcriptomes. In total, 24,221 differentially expressed genes were screened, and the percentage of differentially expressed genes was as high as 46.75% (24,224/51,807), of which 10,474 genes were upregulated and 13,747 genes were downregulated. We analyzed the key genes in the photosynthesis pathway and the porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism pathway; the upregulation of HemB may promote an increase in the chlorophyll contents of ‘Xingwang’, and the upregulation of related genes in PSII and PSI may enhance the light harvesting of ‘Xingwang’, increasing its light energy conversion efficiency.
Analysis of Fatality of Cases by the New Coronavirus, in the Mexican State of Guanajuato: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Padilla-Raygoza Nicolas , Flores-Vargas Gilberto , Navarro-Olivos Efraín , Gallardo-Luna María de Jesús , Magos-Vazquez Francisco Javier , Diaz-Martinez Daniel Alberto
Published: December 2021

Aims: COVID-19 has been a big public health challenge around the world in the past several months. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemic and report of fatality of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, until October 2, 2020.

Study Design:  Cross-sectional, quantitative, analytical study.

Place and Duration of Study: Registries of confirmed cases for COVID-19 in Mexican population from January until October 2, 2020, from National System of Epidemiological Surveillance/ General Direction of Epidemiology/ Secretary of Health, Mexico.

Methodology: Based on the National Epidemiological Surveillance System Database from Mexico was used in this study. Data were collected on age, sex, comorbidities (i.e., diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, immunosuppression, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and smoking), date of death, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase test results. Statistical analyses used were Case Fatality Ratio, Chi- squared test and P-value to show relationships among variables. Odds Ratio and confidence intervals at 95% were reported to show the effect of comorbidities on death due to COVID-19. Also, a Bayesian network model was fitted to assess the statistical dependence among risk factors, comorbidities, and death.

Results: There were 100,109 suspected cases, of which 41.69% were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Being older than 60 and male had a higher effect on fatality by COVID-19. In Guanajuato state, 1,457 (48.68%) of deaths occurred in Mexican Institute of Social Security, with a case fatality ratio of 15.63%; meanwhile, in the Ministry of Health from Guanajuato State occurred 1,260 (42.10%) of the deaths with a case fatality ratio of 4.14%. Diabetes (OR 5.16, CI95% 4.77–5.59), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 6.34, CI95% 5.37–7.49), immunosuppression (OR 2.85, CI95% 2.17–3.76), cardiovascular disease (OR 4.20, CI95% 3.51–5.02), hypertension (OR 4.74, CI95% 4.39–5.11), chronic kidney disease (OR 6.27, CI95% 5.30–7.42), obesity (OR 1.87, CI95% 1.72–2.03), and smoking (OR 1.60, CI95% 1.41–1.81) had effect on death by COVID-19. Asthma had a preventive effect on death (OR=0.72, CI95% 0.54–0.97), but this effect is diluted after adjusting by sex and age. In all cases, age and sex, acted as confounder.

Conclusion: Among the Guanajuato population with COVID-19, the main risk factor for dying were age and sex. However, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunosuppression, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and smoking are risk factors for dying. Although, comorbidities and risk factors are highly correlated.  HIV/AIDS has no effect on fatality from SARS-CoV-2 disease and whereas asthma shows to be a protective factor.
Seed Germination of the Herbaceous Vine Tropaeolum pentaphyllum Lam. (Tropaeolaceae): A Neglected Geophyte with High Agricultural Potential
Authors: Rogalski Juliana Marcia , Silva Daniela da , Balestrin Júlio Tagliari , Mattei Kaliandra Severina , Dorn Angela Julia , Lodi-Souza Tiago
Published: December 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the seed germination of Tropaeolum pentaphyllum Lam., an endangered geophyte native of southern Brazil with agriculture potential due its edible tubers. Two experiments were carried out in 2017: germination of T. pentaphyllum under natural conditions and under controlled conditions. In the experiments under natural and controlled conditions, the germination of 1,100 and 100 seeds was evaluated, respectively. In the experiment under controlled conditions, two treatments (natural light and dark) were evaluated and each treatment contained 50 seeds. In the natural conditions experiment, in 2018 (first year), of the 1,100 seeds, 5.6% germinated and 76.5% persisted in the soil; and in 2019 (second year), 5.3% of the seeds germinated and no seeds remained in the soil. In natural conditions experiment, 10.9% of seeds germinated over two years. In controlled conditions experiment, in 2018 the germination in dark was higher (48%) compared to natural light (18%); and in 2019, despite the absence of statistical differences, the dark showed a higher value of germination (12%) in relation to natural light (6%). Over two years, dark treatment showed higher germination (60%) compared to natural light (24%) and no seeds remained in the substrate. The production of tubers in plants obtained by seed germination was 98.4% and 100%, in natural and controlled conditions, respectively. The highest germination rates occurred under dark conditions indicating that the species is preferential negative photoblastic. In addition, this species forms a seed bank in the soil, in which the seeds remained for a maximum of two years. The seed germination can contribute to the genetic diversity of crops and the production of seed-tubers, decreasing the collection of tubers in situ, contributing to the conservation and agricultural use of T. pentaphyllum.
Community Members and Dentist Perceptions for Oral Treatment Seeking Behavior in an Underprivileged Area: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Moideen Sarah , Tanwir Farzeen , Mazhar Saima , Zaidi Natasha , Kumar Chander , Khalid Arsalan
Published: December 2021

Background: Antibiotic resistance affects generations. It is a major health issue. Resistance to antibiotics is on the rise globally. The absence of proper regulatory mechanism and free access to pharmaceutical agents have led to self-medication and inappropriate therapeutic and

prophylactic prescription.

Methods: Qualitative in-depth research was conducted using focus group discussions (FGDs) for data collection. The study was conducted in an underprivileged colony in Karachi, Pakistan. Community members and Dentist were part of the focus group discussion.

Results: There were two major themes that emerged from the analysis. ‘Knowledge associated with common oral diseases and their consequences’ and ‘Home remedies and treatment seeking behavior’. The focus group discussions showed that the perceptions of community members and dentists was based on bad oral hygiene, lack of awareness of oral disease outcome and barriers in pursuing treatment by dentist There was a lack of Government healthcare facilities and poor professional attitudes and futile law enforcement regarding medicine dispensing and disposal.

Conclusion: The value of this study is to understand the perceptions and determinants of health seeking behavior and recognize the reasons for use and misuse of antibiotics. There is a great need for Government intervention and inexpensive treatment for the masses.
Factors Influencing The Financial Independence of Young Adults, and Evidence From Indonesia
Authors: Evelyn Evelyn , Tanoto Sherly Rosalina , Ricky Ricky
Published: December 2021

Financial independence is a mark of an individual’s maturity. Achieving financial independence for an individual is very important for family life. Society would be better off when most of its members were independent financially. This study investigates whether different groups of young adults based on their age, gender, education, and income significantly differ in their financial independence. Also, this research intends to study demographic factors that influence the financial independence of a society. The research method was quantitative by using a survey with 539 respondents. The result shows that different groups of young adults categorized based on age, gender, education, and income have a significant difference related to financial independence. Age and income are the two most important factors influencing the financial independence of young adults.
DITADURA MILITAR NO BRASIL: A LINGUAGEM DE DIREITOS HUMANOS E O PROTAGONISMO MARGINAL DAS MULHERES
Authors: De Oliveira Lorena
Published: December 2021

Este trabalho investigou se, ou como, era possível observar um encontro entre o discurso de Direitos Humanos e a participação de mulheres na luta contra a ditadura militar no Brasil, utilizando a revisão bibliográfica como metodologia. Observou peculiaridades inerentes à realidade do feminismo da época, esbarrando em questões internas e externas, marcadas pelos papéis de gênero e pelo imaginário social construído em torno da mulher. Encontrou na luta pela anistia o encontro entre o discurso de Direitos Humanos e o movimento feminista, no ponto em que ambos deixaram de lado reivindicações próprias em prol de um bem maior: a derrocada do regime ditatorial.
Sustainable Phosphorus
Authors: Beijer Steven , Slootweg J. Chris
Published: December 2021

Phosphorus is a critical element, fulfilling important roles in bio‐, organic‐, and inorganic chemistry. Due to its versatile chemistry, phosphorus‐based chemicals have a wide array of applications in society. Most importantly, phosphorus is an irreplaceable and limiting building block for life. As such, the natural phosphorus cycle has historically set the pace for all life on earth. This all changed with the discovery of phosphorus‐based fertilizer, which has been largely responsible for the spectacular population growth over the previous century. Consequently, society has become highly dependent on these fertilizers for global food security. This comes with two major problems. Phosphate rock, the primary phosphorus resource, is finite and dwindling. While shortages are not imminent, continuation of current practices will eventually make them an inevitability. More pressing, however, is the problem of waste. Much of the phosphorus we use ends up in the environment, which has serious deleterious effects on biodiversity. Anthropogenic activity has thus disrupted the natural phosphorus cycle to such an extent that the word “cycle” is hardly applicable anymore. Clearly, there is pressing need for more sustainable practices. This article provides a holistic view on this important topic.

The phosphorus industry relies on two phosphate rock‐processing pathways, based on either elemental white phosphorus or phosphoric acid as primary intermediate. Most fine chemical production relies on white phosphorus, accounting for a few percent of the market. As this process requires high energy investments, it is ideally omitted entirely. Novel synthetic pathways based on phosphoric acid are therefore needed, and notable examples are discussed, more in line with the principles of Green Chemistry. Ideally, chemicals are retained in near‐indefinite closed loops, using waste as resource as advocated by the Circular Economy and Circular Chemistry principles. Hazardous chemicals risking emission to the environment should be substituted where possible, or redesigned to alleviate their potential for harm.

The vast majority of phosphate rock is processed to phosphoric acid, easily derivatized, and mostly reserved for the agri‐food sector as fertilizer or animal feed. This sector is highly inefficient, with major losses attributable to agriculture, food production, and consumption, as well as prior mining. Excess phosphorus intake due to animal product consumption exacerbates the problem. To address these issues, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary, involving legislation, education, and international cooperation between the many stakeholders.

To truly close the phosphorus cycle, however, phosphorus needs to be recycled from human and animal waste. Many processes based on precipitation, wet and thermochemical treatment have been developed for phosphorus recovery, but value chains are necessary to bridge the gap between recovery and recycling. This requires alignment across stakeholders, favorable economics, and facilitative legislation.
Injury patterns and associated demographics of intimate partner violence in men presenting to U.S. emergency departments
Authors: Khurana Bharti , Hines Denise A. , Johnson Benjamin A. , Bates Elizabeth A. , Graham‐Kevan Nicola , Loder Randall T.
Published: December 2021

Research suggests that there are differences between sexes in physical intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization that could lead to different injury patterns. In addition, research shows that men under‐report their injuries yet may suffer grave consequences. It is, thus, vital to establish physical injury patterns in male IPV victims. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System‐All Injury Program data from 2005 to 2015 for all IPV‐related injuries in both male and female patients. Sex differences by demographics, mechanism, anatomic location, and diagnoses of IPV injuries were analyzed using statistical methods accounting for the weighted stratified nature of the data. IPV accounted for 0.61% of all emergency department visits; 17.2% were in males and 82.8% in females. Male patients were older (36.1% vs. 16.8% over 60 years), more likely to be Black (40.5% vs. 28.8%), sustained more injuries due to cutting (28.1% vs. 3.5%), more lacerations (46.9% vs. 13.0%), more injuries to the upper extremity (25.8% vs. 14.1%), and fewer contusions/abrasions (30.1% vs. 49.0%), compared to female IPV patients (p < .0001). There were also more hospitalizations in men (7.9% vs. 3.7% p = .0002). Knowledge of specific IPV‐related injury characteristics in men will enable healthcare providers to counteract underreporting of IPV.
In‐law psychological aggression and its impacts on women′s health
Authors: Choi Anna Wai‐Man
Published: December 2021

Conflicts between couples and their parents‐in‐law are a common phenomenon in Chinese families. In this study, in‐law psychological aggression (InPA) victimization and its association with intimate partner violence (IPV), women′s health, and gender role valuation were examined. A household face‐to‐face survey with random sampling was conducted, and a total of 260 married Chinese women with parents‐in‐law were recruited. Among the participants, 11.2% and 43.1% had experienced InPA victimization and IPV victimization, respectively, and 7.3% had experienced both. Women′s daily contact with parents‐in‐law, anxiety symptoms, demand to obey parents‐in‐law, and the low valuation of the male role significantly positively related to InPA victimization, whereas discussions of in‐law conflict with husbands were significantly negatively related to InPA victimization. Therefore, in developing interventions for women experiencing InPA victimization, the role of the husband in InPA victimization and the risk of co‐occurring InPA and IPV should be considered. These findings reflect the need to raise awareness about the influence of culture on gender roles, the harm caused by InPA victimization, and the urgent need to help Chinese women who are experiencing in‐law conflict.
Materials for Silicon Quantum Dots and their Impact on Electron Spin Qubits
Authors: Saraiva Andre , Lim Wee Han , Yang Chih Hwan , Escott Christopher C. , Laucht Arne , Dzurak Andrew S.
Published: December 2021

Quantum computers have the potential to efficiently solve problems in logistics, drug and material design, finance, and cybersecurity. However, millions of qubits will be necessary for correcting inevitable errors in quantum operations. In this scenario, electron spins in gate‐defined silicon quantum dots are strong contenders for encoding qubits, leveraging the microelectronics industry know‐how for fabricating densely populated chips with nanoscale electrodes. The sophisticated material combinations used in commercially manufactured transistors, however, will have a very different impact on the fragile qubits. Here some key properties of the materials that have a direct impact on qubit performance and variability are reviewed.
3D Printing of Cell‐Laden Microgel‐Based Biphasic Bioink with Heterogeneous Microenvironment for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Fang Yongcong , Guo Yihan , Ji Mengke , Li Binhan , Guo Yujiang , Zhu Jieming , Zhang Ting , Xiong Zhuo
Published: December 2021

A major challenge in 3D extrusion bioprinting is the limited number of bioink that fulfills the opposing requirements for printability with requisite rheological properties and for functionality with desirable microenvironment. Here, this limitation is addressed by developing a generalizable strategy for formulating a cell‐laden microgel‐based biphasic (MB) bioink. The MB bioink comprises two components, that is, microgels in close‐packed condition providing excellent rheological properties for extrusion bioprinting, and a hydrogel precursor that forms a second polymer network to integrate the microgels together, providing post‐printing structural stability. This strategy enables the effective printing of a range of hydrogels into complex structures with high shape fidelity. The MB bioink offers great mechanical tunability without compromising printability, and hyperelasticity with superb cyclic compression and stretch endurance. Moreover, the microgels and hydrogel precursor of the MB bioink can encapsulate different types of cells, together creating a heterogeneous cellular microenvironment at microscale. It is successfully demonstrated that hepatocytes and endothelial cells with spatial cell patterning by using MB bioink induce the cellular reorganization and vascularization, leading to enhanced hepatic functions. The proposed MB bioink expands the palette of available bioinks and opens numerous opportunities for the biomedical applications such as tissue engineering and soft robotics.
Recent Advances in Delivery Systems for Genetic and Other Novel Vaccines
Authors: Huang Shiqi , Zhu Yining , Zhang Ling , Zhang Zhirong
Published: December 2021

Vaccination is one of the most successful and cost‐effective prophylactic measures against diseases, especially infectious diseases including smallpox and polio. However, the development of effective prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines for other diseases such as cancer remains challenging. This is often due to the imprecise control of vaccine activity in vivo which leads to insufficient/inappropriate immune responses or short immune memory. The development of new vaccine types in recent decades has created the potential for improving the protective potency against these diseases. Genetic and subunit vaccines are two major categories of these emerging vaccines. Owing to their nature, they rely heavily on delivery systems with various functions, such as effective cargo protection, immunogenicity enhancement, targeted delivery, sustained release of antigens, selective activation of humoral and/or cellular immune responses against specific antigens, and reduced adverse effects. Therefore, vaccine delivery systems may significantly affect the final outcome of genetic and other novel vaccines and are vital for their development. This review introduces these studies based on their research emphasis on functional design or administration route optimization, presents recent progress, and discusses features of new vaccine delivery systems, providing an overview of this field.
Fermi Level Pinning Dependent 2D Semiconductor Devices: Challenges and Prospects
Authors: Liu Xiaochi , Choi Min Sup , Hwang Euyheon , Yoo Won Jong , Sun Jian
Published: December 2021

Motivated by the high expectation for efficient electrostatic modulation of charge transport at very low voltages, atomically thin 2D materials with a range of bandgaps are investigated extensively for use in future semiconductor devices. However, researchers face formidable challenges in 2D device processing mainly originated from the out‐of‐plane van der Waals (vdW) structure of ultrathin 2D materials. As major challenges, untunable Schottky barrier height and the corresponding strong Fermi level pinning (FLP) at metal interfaces are observed unexpectedly with 2D vdW materials, giving rise to unmodulated semiconductor polarity, high contact resistance, and lowered device mobility. Here, FLP observed from recently developed 2D semiconductor devices is addressed differently from those observed from conventional semiconductor devices. It is understood that the observed FLP is attributed to inefficient doping into 2D materials, vdW gap present at the metal interface, and hybridized compounds formed under contacting metals. To provide readers with practical guidelines for the design of 2D devices, the impact of FLP occurring in 2D semiconductor devices is further reviewed by exploring various origins responsible for the FLP, effects of FLP on 2D device performances, and methods for improving metallic contact to 2D materials.
Synchrotron X‐ray Spectroscopic Investigations of In‐Situ‐Formed Alloy Anodes for Magnesium Batteries
Authors: Xu Xin , Ye Chao , Chao Dongliang , Chen Biao , Li Huan , Tang Cheng , Zhong Xiongwei , Qiao Shi‐Zhang
Published: December 2021

Magnesium batteries present high volumetric energy density and dendrite‐free deposition of Mg, drawing wide attention in energy‐storage devices. However, their further development remains stagnated due to relevant interfacial issues between the Mg anode and the electrolyte and sluggish solid‐state diffusion kinetics of Mg2+ ions. Herein, an in situ conversion chemistry to construct a nanostructured Bi anode from bismuth selenide driven by Li+ is proposed. Through the combination of operando synchrotron X‐ray diffraction, ex situ synchrotron X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, and comprehensive electrochemical tests, it is demonstrated that the nanosize of the in‐situ‐formed Bi crystals contributes to the fast Mg2+ diffusion kinetics and highly efficient Mg–Bi alloingy/de‐alloying. The resultant Bi anodes exhibit superior long‐term cycling stability with over 600 cycles under a high current density of 1.0 A g‐1. This work provides a new approach to construct alloy anode and paves the way for exploring novel electrode materials for magnesium batteries.
Expanding Melt‐Based Electrohydrodynamic Printing of Highly‐Ordered Microfibrous Architectures to Cm‐Height Via In Situ Charge Neutralization
Authors: He Jiankang , Hao Guanzhe , Meng Zijie , Cao Yi , Li Dichen
Published: December 2021

It is a great challenge for melt‐based electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing to fabricate cm‐height microfibrous scaffolds with uniform fiber diameter and highly‐ordered architectures due to inherent charge‐induced fiber repulsion and gradually‐reduced electrical strength. Here, a novel approach is presented that involves incorporating the in situ charge neutralization technique into the melt‐based EHD printing process. The addition of the charge elimination module can efficiently neutralize residual charges inside the EHD‐printed microfibers and minimize fiber–fiber repulsion to ensure precise fiber deposition. Computational simulation indicates that the applied voltage should increase ≈0.15 kV as the printed structure height increases 1 mm to maintain a relatively constant electrical strength. The implementation of these two strategies in melt‐based EHD printing successfully produces highly‐ordered fibrous architectures with a maximum height of 10.01 ± 0.18 mm and a uniform fiber diameter of 17.6 ± 1.3 µm. The resultant microfibrous architectures can guide large‐area cellular alignment in 3D and function as supporting frames to reinforce mechanically‐weak collagen hydrogel for engineering large‐volume cellular constructs. To the authors’ best knowledge, it is the first instance of directly producing cm‐height, highly‐ordered microfibrous architectures via melt‐based EHD printing with in situ charge neutralization and constant electrical strength capabilities for tissue‐engineering applications.
Flexible and Robust Ultrablack Elastomers with a Dual‐Gradient Design for Broadband and Efficient Light Management
Authors: Wei Wanyuan , Li Mengwei , Han Yi , Wu Mengjiao , Yan Jun , Liu Mingjie , Chen Yulan
Published: December 2021

Engineering flexible broadband light absorbers is crucial to various applications ranging from dark‐level reduction to light harvesting. However, developing solvent free, ultrablack elastomers with high light‐absorption performance and broad absorption band remains a challenge. Here, a class of composite elastomers is fabricated for ultrablack sheet materials. The fabrication process involves a fast photo‐polymerization of acrylates in the presence of gradient deposited polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles. The resultant film shows a dual‐gradient structure (i.e., lower side features lower polymer chain density while higher concentration of deposited PPy). Such structure design critically contributes to the formation of bio‐mimetic, hierarchical surface microstructures for efficient light trapping. As a result, lower side of the film exhibits incident‐light‐angle independent, high light absorptivity of 98.43% at 250–2400 nm. Moreover, flexible and mechanically robust absorbers have been demonstrated to offer versatile solar energy related applications, such as sunlight heater, photoactuator, pattern display, and anticounterfeiting. Rather than tedious processing ways generally used in carbon nanotube forests or plasmonic involved ultrablack materials, dual‐gradient design principle is concise and compatible with polymer thin‐film fabrication process, and applicable to various elastic substrates, thus will provide guidance for fabricating various flexible ultrablack sheet materials and devices in a cost‐effective and large scalable way.
BiCl3‐Mediated Tandem Cyclization of Tryptamine‐Derived Ynamide: Concise Synthesis of Pentacyclic Spiroindolines and Tricyclic Indole Derivatives
Authors: Lin Xiao‐Tong , Zhao Cheng , Wang Da‐Ru , Wu Guang‐Cheng , Chen Guo‐Shu , Chen Shu‐Jie , Ren Hai , Deng Dong‐Sheng , Xu Yi‐Bing , Hu Xiao‐Wei , Liu Yun‐Lin
Published: December 2021

Catalytic tandem cyclization of ynamides has attracted considerable interest in organic synthesis because of its atom economy in the rapid formation of polycyclic compounds. However, examples on the construction of pentacyclic spiroindolines are quite scarce. Herein, we described a BiCl3‐mediated tandem cyclization reaction of tryptamine‐ynamides, which led to the formation of appealing pentacyclic spiroindoline scaffolds in moderate to excellent yields. In addition, such a reaction can lead to the divergent synthesis of tricyclic indole derivatives with moderate yields by engineering substrate structures. The synthetic utility of this methodology has also been demonstrated by further interesting transformations.

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Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral α‐CF2H Spiro[Indoline‐3,3′‐Thiophene] via Phase‐Transfer Catalyzed Sulfa‐Michael/Michael Domino Reaction
Authors: Deng Yabo , Sun Shuo , Wang Yuqiang , Jia Pengfeng , Li Wenguang , Wang Kairong , Yan Wenjin
Published: December 2021

An asymmetric Sulfa‐Michael/Michael domino reaction of (E)‐4‐mercapto‐2‐butenoates with difluoromethyl‐eneoxindoles catalyzed by a quinidine‐derived ammonium salts as phase transfer catalyst has been disclosed. Under mild conditions, a broad range of CF2H‐containing spiro[indoline‐3,3′‐thiophene]s, bearing three adjacent chiral centers including two vicinal spiro quaternary stereocenters, catalysed by only 5 mol% PTC catalyst were obtained in yields of 75–98%, excellent diastereoselectivities (>20:1, in almost all cases) and enantioselectivities of 19–98% in short reaction times (almost less than 20 minutes).

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Together is Better: mRNA Co‐Encapsulation in Lipoplexes is Required to Obtain Ratiometric Co‐Delivery and Protein Expression on the Single Cell Level
Authors: Zhang Heyang , Bussmann Jeroen , Huhnke Florian H. , Devoldere Joke , Minnaert An‐Katrien , Jiskoot Wim , Serwane Friedhelm , Spatz Joachim , Röding Magnus , De Smedt Stefaan C. , Braeckmans Kevin , Remaut Katrien
Published: December 2021

Liposomes can efficiently deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) into cells. When mRNA cocktails encoding different proteins are needed, a considerable challenge is to efficiently deliver all mRNAs into the cytosol of each individual cell. In this work, two methods are explored to co‐deliver varying ratiometric doses of mRNA encoding red (R) or green (G) fluorescent proteins and it is found that packaging mRNAs into the same lipoplexes (mingle‐lipoplexes) is crucial to efficiently deliver multiple mRNA types into the cytosol of individual cells according to the pre‐defined ratio. A mixture of lipoplexes containing only one mRNA type (single‐lipoplexes), however, seem to follow the “first come – first serve” principle, resulting in a large variation of R/G uptake and expression levels for individual cells leading to ratiometric dosing only on the population level, but rarely on the single‐cell level. These experimental observations are quantitatively explained by a theoretical framework based on the stochasticity of mRNA uptake in cells and endosomal escape of mingle‐ and single‐lipoplexes, respectively. Furthermore, the findings are confirmed in 3D retinal organoids and zebrafish embryos, where mingle‐lipoplexes outperformed single‐lipoplexes to reliably bring both mRNA types into single cells. This benefits applications that require a strict control of protein expression in individual cells.
Nano‐enabled Tumor Systematic Energy Exhaustion via Zinc (II) Interference Mediated Glycolysis Inhibition and Specific GLUT1 Depletion
Authors: Wu Sixuan , Zhang Kaixiang , Liang Yan , Wei Yongbin , An Jingyi , Wang Yifei , Yang Jiali , Zhang Hongling , Zhang Zhenzhong , Liu Junjie , Shi Jinjin
Published: December 2021

Despite the promise of tumor starvation therapies, they are often associated with nonspecific and incomplete energy blockade. Here, a novel paradigm of starvation therapy is proposed to synergize the “Zn2+ interference”‐mediated glycolysis inhibition and Zn2+‐activating GLUT1 (Glucose transporter 1) tumor specific depletion for systematic energy exhaustion. It is discovered that ZIF‐8 (zinc imidazolate metal–organic frameworks ) can induce abrupt intracellular Zn2+ elevation preferentially in melanoma cells, and then achieve effective glycolysis blockade through “Zn2+ interference”‐triggered decrease of NAD+ and inactivation of GAPDH, making it a powerful tumor energy nanoinhibitor. Meanwhile, Zn2+‐activating DNAzymes for specifically cleaving GLUT1 mRNA is designed. This DNAzyme can only be activated under intracellular Zn2+ overloading, and then directionally cut off glucose supply, which further restrains the adaptive up‐regulation of glycolytic flux after glycolysis inhibition in tumors. Afterward, DNAzymes are loaded in ZIF‐8 concurrently tethered by hyaluronic acid (HA), constructing a “nanoenabled energy interrupter ”. Such a rational design presents a preferential accumulation tendency to tumor sites due to the active CD44‐targeting mechanisms, specifically achieves remarkable systematic energy exhaustion in melanoma cells, and affords 80.8% in tumor growth suppression without systemic toxicity in vivo. This work verifies a fascinating therapeutic platform enabling ion interference‐inductive starvation strategy for effective tumor therapy.
Bioinspired Catechol‐Grafting PEDOT Cathode for an All‐Polymer Aqueous Proton Battery with High Voltage and Outstanding Rate Capacity
Authors: Zhu Meihua , Zhao Li , Ran Qing , Zhang Yingchao , Peng Runchang , Lu Geyu , Jia Xiaoteng , Chao Danming , Wang Caiyun
Published: December 2021

Aqueous all‐polymer proton batteries (APPBs) consisting of redox‐active polymer electrodes are considered safe and clean renewable energy storage sources. However, there remain formidable challenges for APPBs to withstand a high current rate while maximizing high cell output voltage within a narrow electrochemical window of aqueous electrolytes. Here, a capacitive‐type polymer cathode material is designed by grafting poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) with bioinspired redox‐active catechol pendants, which delivers high redox potential (0.60 V vs Ag/AgCl) and remarkable rate capability. The pseudocapacitive‑dominated proton storage mechanism illustrated by the density functional theory (DFT) calculation and electrochemical kinetics analysis is favorable for delivering fast charge/discharge rates. Coupled with a diffusion‐type anthraquinone‐based polymer anode, the APPB offers a high cell voltage of 0.72 V, outstanding rate capability (64.8% capacity retention from 0.5 to 25 A g−1), and cycling stability (80% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at 2 A g−1), which is superior to the state‐of‐the‐art all‐organic proton batteries. This strategy and insight provided by DFT and ex situ characterizations offer a new perspective on the delicate design of polymer electrode patterns for high‐performance APPBs.
Ternary Logic with Stateful Neural Networks Using a Bilayered TaOX‐Based Memristor Exhibiting Ternary States
Authors: Kim Young Seok , An Jangho , Jeon Jae Bum , Son Myeong Won , Son Seoil , Park Woojoon , Lee Younghyun , Park Juseong , Kim Geun Young , Kim Gwangmin , Song Hanchan , Kim Kyung Min
Published: December 2021

A memristive stateful neural network allowing complete Boolean in‐memory computing attracts high interest in future electronics. Various Boolean logic gates and functions demonstrated so far confirm their practical potential as an emerging computing device. However, spatio‐temporal efficiency of the stateful logic is still too limited to replace conventional computing technologies. This study proposes a ternary‐state memristor device (simply a ternary memristor) for application to ternary stateful logic. The ternary‐state implementable memristor device is developed with bilayered tantalum oxide by precisely controlling the oxygen content in each oxide layer. The device can operate 157 ternary logic gates in one operational clock, which allows an experimental demonstration of a functionally complete three‐valued Łukasiewicz logic system. An optimized logic cascading strategy with possible ternary gates is ≈20% more efficient than conventional binary stateful logic, suggesting it can be beneficial for higher performance in‐memory computing.
Pressure‐Perceptive Actuators for Tactile Soft Robots and Visual Logic Devices
Authors: Zhou Peidi , Lin Jian , Zhang Wei , Luo Zhiling , Chen Luzhuo
Published: December 2021

Soft actuators with sensing capabilities are important in intelligent robots and human–computer interactions. However, present perceptive actuating systems rely on the integration of multiple functional units with complex circuit design. Here, a new‐type pressure‐perceptive actuator is reported, which integrates functions of sensing, actuating, and decision making at material level without complex combination. The actuator is composed of an actuating unit and a pressure‐sensing unit, both of which are fabricated by carbon nanotube (CNT), silk, and polymer composite. On the one hand, the actuating unit can be driven by low voltages (<13 V), owing to a Joule‐heating effect. On the other hand, the current passing the pressure‐sensing unit can be controlled by tactile pressure. In the integrated actuator, it is able to control the deformation amplitude of actuating unit by applying different pressures on the pressure‐sensing unit. A portable tactile‐activated gripper is fabricated to operate an object through pressure control, demonstrating its application in tactile soft robots. Finally, three visual logic gates (AND, OR, and NOT) are proposed, which convert “tactile” inputs into “visible” deformation outputs, using the CNT‐silk‐based material for sensing and actuating in the decision‐making process. This study provides a new path for intelligent soft robots and new‐generation logic devices.