bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
lncRNA NEAT1/miR‐495‐3p regulates angiogenesis in burn sepsis through the TGF‐β1 and SMAD signaling pathways
Authors: Meng Yanbin , Hao Zhenming , Zhang Hairui , Bai Peiyi , Guo Wanli , Tian Xiaorui , Xu Jun
Published: January 2023

Introduction

To investigate the role of the long‐chain noncoding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in the process of angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and illustrate its potential role in burn sepsis (BS) pathogenesis.

Methods

HUVECs were treated with BS patient serum or healthy control serum. NEAT1 shRNA, miR‐495‐3p mimics, and miR‐495‐3p inhibitor were transfected into HUVECs. NEAT1 and miR‐495‐3 levels in serum or HUVECs were detected using quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Cell counting kit‐8 and flow cytometry assays were used to explore the proliferation and apoptosis of HUVECs. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the supernatant was detected using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Tube formation of HUVECs was also analyzed. Western blot analysis was used to analyze signaling pathway proteins.

Results

In HUVECs stimulated with BS patient serum, NEAT1 expression was increased, while miR‐495‐3p expression was decreased. In addition, NEAT1 silencing by specific shRNA inhibited cell proliferation, VEGF production, and tube formation under burn patient serum treatment, which decreased the TGFβ1/SMAD signaling pathway activation. Moreover, miR‐495‐3p minics inhibited angiogenesis and the activation of signaling pathways induced by NEAT1 shRNA. Furthermore, miR‐495‐3p inhobitor promoted angiogenesis in HUVECs and activated the TGFβ1/SMAD signaling pathway. In patients with BS, NEAT1 expression was significantly increased and miR‐495‐3p expression was decreased compared to healthy controls, and NEAT1 and miR‐495‐3p expression was associated with the clinical features of patients.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that lncRNA NEAT1 regulates angiogenesis and activates the TGFβ1/SMAD signaling pathway during the occurrence of BS.
Resisting subtractive language and literacy policies: Breaking the cycles of loss among bilingual preservice educators
Authors: Harvey‐Torres Rosalyn , Cervantes‐Soon Claudia , Brochin Carol
Published: January 2023

Literacy scholars have noted the importance of drawing upon all of one's linguistic resources and experiences to make sense of texts. However, literacy instruction is often shaped by restrictive and punitive policies that limit the learning experiences and opportunities offered to racialized bi/multilingual students from low‐income communities. We illustrate this phenomenon through our experiences as former teachers of bilingual students and as teacher educators in Arizona and Texas, shedding light on the cycles of loss that such policies create and how this loss manifests among preservice teachers. We also reflect on the agency enacted by educators to heal their identities and develop transformative literacy practices.
A computational two‐photon fluorescence approach for revealing label‐free the 3D image of viruses and bacteria
Authors: Delmon Cédric , Ferrandon Erwan , Chouzenoux Emilie , Prorot Audrey , Alain Sophie , Lefort Claire
Published: January 2023

Current solutions for bacteria and viruses identification are based on time‐consuming technics with complex preparation procedures. In the present work, we revealed label‐free the presence of free viral particles and bacteria with a computational two‐photon fluorescence (C‐TPF) strategy. Six bacteria were tested: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, and Clostridium perfringens. The two families of viral particles were the herpes virus with the cytomegalovirus (CMV, 300 nm of diameter) and the coronavirus with the SARS‐CoV‐2 (100 nm of diameter). The instrumental and computational pipeline FAMOUS optimized the produced 3D images. The origin of the fluorescence emission was discussed for bacteria regarding to their two‐photon excitation spectra and attributed to the metabolic indicators (FAD and NADH). The optical and computational strategy constitute a new approach for imaging label‐free viral particles and bacteria and paves the way to a new understanding of viral or bacterial ways of infection.
Overexpression of YTHDC2 contributes to the progression of prostate cancer and predicts poor outcomes in patients with prostate cancer
Authors: Song Jukun , You Ganhua , Yin Xinhai , Zhu Guohua , Wang Wei , Yu Yongwei , Zhu Jianguo
Published: January 2023

YTH domain‐containing protein 2 (YTHDC2), a member of N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) readers, has been reported to be closely associated with multiple cancer types. However, very little is known about the YTHDC2 gene and its involvement in prostate cancer. YTHDC2 protein expression level was analyzed and correlated to clinical outcomes in prostate cancer patients who underwent prostatectomy in Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital. The YTHDC2 expression level was also detected in prostate cancer cell lines and an immortalized prostate epithelial cell line BPH‐1 and RWPE1 by quantitative real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, we established stable cell lines (DU145 and PC‐3) transfected with either empty vector or the full‐length YTHDC2 gene and conducted cell function assays in vitro. Fisher's exact test and Pearson χ2 test were employed, Kaplan–Meier method was used for the survival analysis. Of 32 patient samples who enrolled in this study, YTHDC2 was significantly upregulated in prostate cancer (PCa) patients with higher Gleason scores and serum prostate‐specific antigen levels. YTHDC2 expression was significantly elevated in all PCa cell lines compared to BPH‐1 and RWPE1 (all p < 0.05). Functionally, the enforced expression of YTHDC2 markedly promoted cell growth, migration, and invasion efficacies in prostate cancer cells. Our data indicate that YTHDC2 upregulation may be potentially associated with the prognosis of prostate cancer patients.
Realistic nuclear charge distribution model function for analytic nuclear attraction integrals in Gaussian basis functions
Authors: Inoue Nobuki , Nakajima Takahito
Published: January 2023

In electronic structure theory, the charge distribution of a nucleus is usually approximated by point charge, Gaussian function, or homogeneously charged sphere, because they have an analytical nuclear attraction integral (NAI) formula. However, these functions do not always provide good approximations for nuclei with large mass number. The two‐parameter Fermi (2pF) distribution and more realistic distributions describe well even nuclei with large mass number but do not have analytical NAI formulas. We propose a new function model called augmented Gaussian 12 (AG12), which has sufficient number of parameters and analytical NAI formulas. With the proposed fitting scheme, the AG12 charge distribution model optimally reproduces 2pF and the more realistic charge distributions. Moreover, AG12 fitted to 2pF model reproduces the energy difference of hydrogen‐like ions well between the Gaussian distribution and 2pF models. Calculations using AG12 also suggested necessity to use more realistic nuclear charge distributions than 2pF.
Performance and kinetics study of glycerol ketal synthesis from biomass‐based platform chemicals catalyzed by metal salts
Authors: Liu Xueli , Hou Cuihong , Wu Yuan , Chen Wei , Chang Chun , Xu Yanli , Xu Guizhuan
Published: January 2023

Background

Methyl levulinate glycerol ketal (MLK) is a new kind of glycerol ketal with a wide range of applications. The efficient and green synthesis of MLK from biomass‐based platform chemicals including methyl levulinate (ML) and glycerol (GLY) catalyzed by cheap metal salts was investigated. Effects of different reaction conditions on the GLY conversion and the MLK yield were discussed, and the optimization and the kinetics of ketal preparation were further developed.

Results

The reaction time, amount of catalyst and ML:GLY molar ratio were optimized based on Box–Behnken experimental design. The average MLK yield of 97.6% could be obtained under the optimum reaction conditions of ML:GLY molar ratio 4:3, vacuum degree 90 kPa, AlCl3 1.8 g, temperature 126 °C and reaction time 2 h, and the AlCl3 could be reused ten times without deactivation. On this basis, the kinetics studies showed that the ketal reaction conforms to the pseudo‐second‐order kinetics model, and the values of pre‐referential factor and activation energy were 1.824 × 104 mol·(g·h)−1 and 90.69 kJ mol−1. A reaction pathway for the ketalization reaction was proposed.

Conclusions

These results provide references for the scale‐up of MLK synthesis and the development of a new glycerol ketal. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Escherichia coli runoff from sheep and dairy cow grazed pasture: A plot scale simulation
Authors: Muirhead Richard W.
Published: January 2023

Animal agriculture is recognized as a key source of fecal microbial impacts on water quality and associated risks to human health. Most of the research effort has focused on losses of fecal microbes from cow/cattle feces with little research effort on sheep fecal risks. The literature on fecal microbial risks from pasture is complicated by the fact that experiments are carried out in different environments leading to difficulties in making direct comparisons between sheep and cow/cattle losses from pasture areas. In this study, a plot scale simulation was conducted on the same pasture plots, using simulated rainfall to generate comparable runoff conditions, and using simulated grazing to create similar relative stocking rates. The Escherichia coli concentrations in the runoff were similar from simulated or natural rainfall events. At an equivalent stocking rate, the E. coli runoff concentrations from the sheep grazed pastures were four times higher than the cow grazed pasture. These results show that at an equivalent stocking rate, the E. coli runoff risk from sheep grazed pasture is higher than for cow grazed pasture. Further research is needed to understand the relative impacts of different grazing species of animals as well as stocking rate or management effects on these relative risks to water quality.
Girth and λ $\lambda $‐choosability of graphs
Authors: Gu Yangyan , Zhu Xuding
Published: January 2023

Assume is a positive integer, is a partition of and is a graph. A ‐assignment of is a ‐assignment of such that the colour set can be partitioned into subsets and for each vertex of , . We say is ‐choosable if for each ‐assignment of , is ‐colourable. In particular, if , then ‐choosable is the same as ‐choosable, and if , then ‐choosable is equivalent to ‐colourable. For the other partitions of sandwiched between and in terms of refinements, ‐choosability reveals a complex hierarchy of colourability of graphs. Assume is a partition of and is a partition of . We write if there is a partition of with for and is a refinement of . It follows from the definition that if , then every ‐choosable graph is ‐choosable. It was proved in Zhu that the converse is also true. This paper strengthens this result and proves that for any , for any integer , there exists a graph of girth at least which is ‐choosable but not ‐choosable.
“[T]he laws need to change to reflect current society”: Insights from stakeholders involved in development, review or implementation of policies about adolescent consent for HIV testing, care and research in Kenya
Authors: Li Huangqianyu , Shah Seema K. , Healy Elise , Agot Kawango , Neary Jillian , Wilson Kate , Badia Jacinta , Atieno Winnie O. , Moraa Hellen , Meischke Hendrika , Kibugi James , Inwani Irene , Chhun Nok , Mukumbang Ferdinand C. , John‐Stewart Grace , Kohler Pamela , Beima‐Sofie Kristin
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Engaging adolescents in HIV care and research promotes the development of interventions tailored to their unique needs. Guidelines generally require parental permission for adolescents to receive HIV care/testing or participate in research, with exceptions. Nevertheless, parental permission requirements can restrict adolescent involvement in care and research. To better appreciate prospects for policy reform, we sought to understand the perspectives of stakeholders involved in the development, review and implementation of policies related to adolescents living with HIV.

Methods

Semi‐structured individual interviews (IDIs) were conducted from October 2019 to March 2020 with 18 stakeholders with expertise in the (1) development of policy through membership in the Law Society of Kenya or work as a health policy official; (2) review of policy through ethics review committee service; or (3) implementation of policy through involvement in adolescent education. IDIs were conducted in English by Kenyan social scientists, audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used thematic analysis to identify themes around how policies can be reformed to improve adolescent engagement in HIV care and research.

Results

Our analysis identified three major themes. First, policies should be flexible rather than setting an age of consent. Stakeholders noted that adolescents’ capacity for engagement in HIV care and research depended on context, perceived risks and benefits, and “maturity”—and that age was a poor proxy for the ability to understand. Second, policies should evolve with changing societal views about adolescent autonomy. Participants recognized a generational shift in how adolescents learn and mature, suggesting the need for a more frequent review of HIV care and research guidelines. Third, adults should empower adolescent decision‐making. Stakeholders felt that caregivers can gradually involve adolescents in decision‐making to equip them to gain ownership over their health and lives, improving their confidence and capacity.

Conclusions

Revising relevant laws to consider context, alternative measures of maturity, and evolving societal views about adolescence, along with supporting caregivers to assist in developing adolescent autonomy may promote more equitable and representative participation of adolescents in HIV care and research. Additional research should explore how to support caregivers and other adults to empower adolescents and improve stakeholder engagement in a more routine process of policy reform.
Feasibility study of cultivating desi‐type chickpea genotypes in cold and temperate regions
Authors: Nezami Ahmad , Mahmoodi Ali Akbar , Nabati Jafar , Mohammadi Mohammad , Hasanfard Alireza
Published: January 2023

Shifting the sowing time of chickpea plants from spring to autumn in arid and semi‐arid regions of Iran is unavoidable. To study the feasibility of this issue, 32 desi‐type chickpea genotypes were planted in Mashhad (as a temperate region) and Jolgeh Rokh (as a cold region) to screen cold‐tolerant genotypes. The results revealed that 100% and 19% of the genotypes planted in Mashhad and Jolgeh Rokh had a survival range of 76–100%. MCC918 in Mashhad and MCC913 in Jolgeh Rokh had the highest height (69 and 33 cm, respectively). The highest biological yields in Mashhad and Jolgeh Rokh were found in MCC576 (1743 g m−2) and MCC207 (658 g m−2), respectively. The grain yield of 41% (13 genotypes) and 34% (11 genotypes) of the genotypes planted in Mashhad and Jolgeh Rokh was higher than the total average (316 and 82 g m−2, respectively). Also, the maximum grain yield in Mashhad was about 2.3 times higher than in Jolgeh Rokh. According to the present experimental results, MCC259, MCC576, and MCC607 in Mashhad as a cold temperate region and MCC207, MCC212, and MCC605 in Jolgeh Rokh as a cold region had the highest winter survival percentage and grain yield compared to the other genotypes.
Gravity perception disturbance in patients with unilateral Meniere disease
Authors: Wada Yoshiro , Shiozaki Tomoyuki , Yamanaka Toshiaki , Kitahara Tadashi
Published: January 2023

Objective

To investigate gravity perception disturbance (GPD) in patients with Meniere disease (MD), we classified GPD type based on the results of the head‐tilt perception gain (HTPG) and the head‐upright subjective visual vertical (HU‐SVV) evaluated by the head‐tilt SVV (HT‐SVV) test in patients with unilateral MD.

Methods

We conducted the HT‐SVV test on 115 patients with unilateral MD and 115 healthy controls. Among the 115 patients, the period from the first vertigo episode to the examination (PFVE) was known for 91 patients.

Results

The HT‐SVV test classified 60.9% and 39.1% of patients with unilateral MD as GPD and non‐GPD, respectively. GPD was classified according to HTPG/HU‐SVV combinations as follows: Type A GPD (21.7%, normal HTPG/abnormal HU‐SVV), Type B GPD (23.5%, abnormal HTPG/normal HU‐SVV), and Type C GPD (15.7%, abnormal HTPG/abnormal HU‐SVV). As the PFVE became longer, patients with non‐GPD and Type A GPD decreased; however, those with Types B and C GPD increased.

Conclusion

This study provides novel information on unilateral MD from the perspective of gravity perception by classifying GPD based on the results of the HT‐SVV test. This study's findings suggest that overcompensation for vestibular dysfunction in patients with unilateral MD exhibited by large HTPG abnormalities may be strongly associated with persistent postural‐perceptual dizziness.

Level of Evidence

3b
Anatomic and histomorphometric study of the nerve to the vastus lateralis in cadaver for its clinical application in facial reanimation
Authors: Lasso Jose M. , Ibarra Gorka , Rivera Andres , Fernandez‐Ibarburu Borja , Olivares Martin , de la Cruz Ignacio , Gomez‐Navarro Yesica , Garcia Maria
Published: January 2023

Background

The innervated vastus lateralis flap (IVLF) is a barely used possibility for facial palsy reconstruction because of its thickness compared to the gracilis, latissimus dorsi, and pectoralis minor flaps. The aim of this study is to perform a precise description of the intramuscular distribution of the nerve motor branches and its relationship with the vascular pedicle in order to harvest a segmental muscle flap with the best contractile strength to restore facial reanimation.

Methods

The study was performed on 16 adult cadaver thighs identifying the vastus lateralis muscle and the distribution and relationships of its neurovascular pedicle and branches. We evaluated where the nerve pierced the muscle and the course of the nerve within it. Transverse segments of the nerve were obtained from the proximal and distal ends of the nerve and stained using anti‐ChAT (Choline acetyltransferase) antibodies which are specific of motor neurons.

Results

A nerve for the vastus lateralis from the posterior division of the femoral nerve divided into 2 branches in 56% of cases; the principal branch coursed along the vascular pedicle and pierced the muscle more proximally than the respective vessels, and a minor branch that pierced the muscle 25–60 mm proximally. There were 3 main intramuscular branches. The nerve length (mean 132.65 ± 22.89 mm) allowed to reach the contralateral side of the face in almost all cases (95%).

The mean ChAT positive fibers was 351.0 ± 92.4/mm2 at the proximal end, and 270.3 ± 87.9/mm2 at the distal end (p = 0.49). The number of ChAT negative fibers was higher than ChAT positive in both proximal and distal ends of the nerve.

Conclusion

We propose the IVLF as a one‐step surgical flap for facial paralysis reanimation due to the constant neurovascular pattern and lengthy pedicle. The amount of motor fibers in several segments of the nerve is appropriate to produce a powerful contraction for dynamic reconstruction.
Characteristic mode analysis of a compact circularly polarized rotated square slot antenna
Authors: Oteng Gyasi Kwame , Boukarkar Abdelheq , Obeng Kwakye Kingsford Sarkodie , Ellis Mubarak Sani , Ahmed Abdul‐Rahman , Kponyo Jerry John , Basit Muhammad Abdul , Shoaib Nosherwan
Published: January 2023

Presented in this paper is a circularly polarized (CP) wide 45° rotated slot antenna with a broad bandwidth. Characteristic mode analysis is initially carried out to show that, by simply rotating a square slot, CP waves can be radiated if it is properly excited. A simple 50 Ω feedline is then designed to excite the slot for the generation of broadband CP waves. The antenna has a total volume of 30 × 30 × 1.6 mm3. Measurement results indicate a broad S11 ≤ −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 85.7% (3.2–8 GHz), a broadband 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 57.1% (3.5–6.3 GHz) and a peak gain of 3.6 dBi are obtained by the antenna. The proposed antenna possesses stable radiation patterns as well as relatively flat gain over its operational bandwidth in addition to being compact. It can thus be used for wireless technologies such as WiMAX 3.5 and 5.5 GHz, WLAN 5.2 and 5.8 GHz in addition to Industrial, Scientific, and Medical 5.8 GHz.
Two families of two‐dimensional finite element interpolation functions of general degree with general continuity
Authors: Moitinho de Almeida J. P.
Published: January 2023

This work presents a generalization of the functions used in Fraeijs de Veubeke's quadrilateral (FVQ) element and in Hsieh, Clough and Tocher's (HCT) triangle, allowing for an arbitrary degree of the approximation, , and for arbitrary order of continuity, . These functions can be used to define finite elements that lead by direct assembly to approximations. Their determination for each element is procedural, generalizing the reasoning used by Zienkiewicz to explain the FVQ element. The completeness of each basis is confirmed by comparing its dimension with that of a broken basis, defined primitive element wise, upon which the continuity constraints are successively imposed. The order of continuity at the vertices that is required to enable the independent definition of the normal derivatives at the sides is confirmed numerically. The corresponding interpolation functions are symbolically derived using Mathematica, and simple matlab codes using the data thus obtained are made available, to illustrate their application.
Outcomes of relapsed/refractory extracranial germ cell tumors treated on conventional salvage chemotherapy without stem cell rescue: Experience from a tertiary cancer center
Authors: Ramanathan Subramaniam , Prasad Maya , Vora Tushar , Badira Cheriyalinkal Parambil , Kembhavi Seema , Ramadwar Mukta , Khanna Nehal , Laskar Siddhartha , Muckaden Mary Ann , Qureshi Sajid , Banavali Shripad , Chinnaswamy Girish
Published: January 2023

Background and aims

Data on the outcome and prognostic indicators in extracranial relapsed/refractory germ cell tumors (rel/ref‐GCTs) in children are limited to a few studies. This study looks at remission rates and outcomes of rel/ref‐GCTs treated with conventional salvage chemotherapy (SC) regimens without stem cell rescue at a single center in the developing world.

Methods

Patients treated at our center from January 2009 to December 2018 were included. Risk at primary presentation was stratified as all completely excised teratomas and stage I gonadal tumors being low risk (LR); stage IV ovarian, stage III–IV extragonadal GCTs as high risk (HR), and the remaining as intermediate risk (IR). SC regimens were: vinblastine–ifosfamide–cisplatin/carboplatin or paclitaxel–ifosfamide–cisplatin/carboplatin, or cisplatin/carboplatin–etoposide–bleomycin. Local therapy was either surgery and/or radiotherapy.

Results

The analyzable cohort comprised 50 patients (44 = rel‐GCTs; 6 = ref‐GCTs) with a median age of 3.8 years and male:female ratio of 1.27:1. Primary location was ovary in 16 (32%), testicular in 10 (20%), and extragonadal in the rest (48%). Local, metastatic, and combined progression was noted in 28 (56%), 14 (28%), and eight (16%) patients, respectively, at a median time of 8.5 months. At a median follow‐up of 60 months, the 5‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort (n = 50) were 42.4% and 50.0%, respectively. In patients previously exposed to platinum analogs (n = 38), 5‐year‐EFS and OS were 27.7% and 31.7%, respectively. Local relapses did better when compared to metastatic and combined relapses (5‐year EFS: 64% vs. 23% vs. 0%; p = .009). LR and IR tumors did better compared to HR (5‐year EFS: 81.5% vs. 49.3% vs. 6.5%; p = .002). Patients with normalization of tumor markers after two cycles had a superior EFS (57.6% vs. 0%; p < .001). Relapsed tumors fared better than primary refractory GCTs (5‐year EFS: 48.6% vs. 0%; p < .001).

Conclusions

Primary refractory GCTs, extragonadal rel‐GCTs, and rel/ref‐GCTs with a poor biochemical response did poorly with conventional SC and need alternative treatment strategies. The rel/ref‐testicular GCTs had the best chance of salvage despite a second recurrence (5‐year EFS and OS: 28.60% and 42.90%, respectively).
Serum proteomics profiling identifies a preliminary signature for the diagnosis of early‐stage lung cancer
Authors: Gasparri Roberto , Noberini Roberta , Cuomo Alessandro , Yadav Avinash , Tricarico Davide , Salvetto Carola , Maisonneuve Patrick , Caminiti Valentina , Sedda Giulia , Sabalic Angela , Bonaldi Tiziana , Spaggiari Lorenzo
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer worldwide, largely due to late diagnosis. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new approaches to improve the detection of early‐stage lung cancer, which would greatly improve patient survival.

Experimental Design

The quantitative protein expression profiles of microvesicles isolated from the sera from 46 lung cancer patients and 41 high‐risk non‐cancer subjects were obtained using a mass spectrometry method based on a peptide library matching approach.

Results

We identified 33 differentially expressed proteins that allow discriminating the two groups. We also built a machine learning model based on serum protein expression profiles that can correctly classify the majority of lung cancer cases and that highlighted a decrease in the levels of Arysulfatase A (ARSA) as the most discriminating factor found in tumors.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Our study identified a preliminary, non‐invasive protein signature able to discriminate with high specificity and selectivity early‐stage lung cancer patients from high‐risk healthy subjects. These results provide the basis for future validation studies for the development of a non‐invasive diagnostic tool for lung cancer.
ScrepYard: An online resource for disulfide‐stabilized tandem repeat peptides
Authors: Liu Junyu , Maxwell Michael , Cuddihy Thom , Crawford Theo , Bassetti Madeline , Hyde Cameron , Peigneur Steve , Tytgat Jan , Undheim Eivind A. B. , Mobli Mehdi
Published: January 2023

Receptor avidity through multivalency is a highly sought‐after property of ligands. While readily available in nature in the form of bivalent antibodies, this property remains challenging to engineer in synthetic molecules. The discovery of several bivalent venom peptides containing two homologous and independently folded domains (in a tandem repeat arrangement) has provided a unique opportunity to better understand the underpinning design of multivalency in multimeric biomolecules, as well as how naturally occurring multivalent ligands can be identified. In previous work, we classified these molecules as a larger class termed secreted cysteine‐rich repeat‐proteins (SCREPs). Here, we present an online resource; ScrepYard, designed to assist researchers in identification of SCREP sequences of interest and to aid in characterizing this emerging class of biomolecules. Analysis of sequences within the ScrepYard reveals that two‐domain tandem repeats constitute the most abundant SCREP domain architecture, while the interdomain “linker” regions connecting the functional domains are found to be abundant in amino acids with short or polar sidechains and contain an unusually high abundance of proline residues. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of ScrepYard as a virtual screening tool for discovery of putatively multivalent peptides, by using it as a resource to identify a previously uncharacterized serine protease inhibitor and confirm its predicted activity using an enzyme assay.
2.2 W/mm at 94 GHz in AlN/GaN/AlN High‐Electron‐Mobility Transistors on SiC
Authors: Hickman Austin , Chaudhuri Reet , Li Lei , Nomoto Kazuki , Moser Neil , Elliott Michael , Guidry Matthew , Shinohara Keisuke , Hwang James C. M. , Xing Huili Grace , Jena Debdeep
Published: January 2023

Aluminum nitride (AlN) offers novel potential for electronic integration and performance benefits for high‐power, millimeter‐wave amplification. Herein, load‐pull power performance at 30 and 94 GHz for AlN/GaN/AlN high‐electron‐mobility transistors (HEMTs) on silicon carbide (SiC) is reported. When tuned for peak power‐added efficiency (PAE), the reported AlN/GaN/AlN HEMT shows PAE of 25% and 15%, with associated output power () of 2.5 and 1.7 W mm−1, at 30 and 94 GHz, respectively. At 94 GHz, the maximum generated is 2.2 W mm−1, with associated PAE of 13%.
Investigation of pharmacodynamic material basis of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma and its processed products based on plant metabolomics and molecular docking technology
Authors: Tian Xi , Wei Jinhuan , Niu Yukun , Yang Mengxin , Jin Yiran , Du Yingfeng , Sun Qian
Published: January 2023

Rationale

Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (AR) has been an often used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a long time. Its salt‐processed form is one of the most common application forms. Modern pharmacological research has shown that the salt‐processed product has various significantly enhanced pharmacological activities. However, the pharmacodynamic material basis of this change is not yet known. The aim of this study was to develop a strategy to screen pharmacodynamic substances in AR and salt‐processed AR (SAR).

Methods

An integrated strategy combining plant metabolomics with molecular docking technology was established to screen pharmacodynamic substances. The plant metabolomics analysis was performed to select the chemical markers between AR and SAR. Then, molecular docking technology was applied to explore the relationship between chemical markers and diabetes targets (α‐glucosidase). Finally, potential quality control markers were screened.

Results

There were significant differences in the quantification of nine steroidal saponins between AR and SAR. The results of plant metabolomics analysis showed a quite clear discrimination including 29 chemical markers between AR and SAR. Taking the hypoglycemic activity into consideration, 16 steroidal saponins were selected as potential quality markers.

Conclusions

The developed method not only supplied an optional solution to search for pharmacophores in AR and SAR, but also provided a foundation for the study of the differential components and pharmacodynamics in various processed products of TCMs.
Effects of using picture books in mathematics teaching and learning: A systematic literature review from 2000–2022
Authors: Zhang Qiaoping , Sun Jin , Yeung Wing‐ying
Published: January 2023

Using picture books in teaching is a popular trend in early childhood education. However, little attention has been paid to such pedagogy in mathematics learning. For this article, we reviewed 16 empirical studies from the past two decades (2000–2022) regarding the use of picture books in mathematics instruction, in order to investigate their effects on mathematics learning in students. We analyse and critically assess approaches used to integrate picture books into mathematics instruction, the overall effects of such integration on the mathematical performance of students, and the factors that inhibit or enhance these effects. The findings of our review reveal that most of the selected studies targeted early mathematics education, with only a minority addressing secondary education. Various approaches are available for the integration of picture books into mathematics teaching, having various positive effects on student attitudes toward mathematics, as well as their academic performance and mathematical representation ability. The reported inhibiting factors for teachers using picture books in teaching included a lack of pedagogical knowledge and confidence, time constraints, resource constraints and doubts regarding the expected outcomes. Conversely, the enhancing factors included early educational stage (especially the pre‐school level), perceived pedagogical benefits, desire to improve teaching and enabling social norms. Suggestions for future research focused on the integration of picture books into classroom teaching are also discussed.
Clear your plate for more purpose‐driven work
Authors: Freebairn‐Smith Laura
Published: January 2023

In this column, I want to provide you with a practical management tool that many of my clients have found helpful. This tool helps manage the barrage of demands on your time, on your organization, and on your staff — demands which often come without adequate resources. This tool can help create space for the projects that matter, in a non‐aggressive way, of course.
Growing platforms within platforms: How platforms manage the adoption of complementor products in the presence of network effects?
Authors: Agarwal Shiva , Miller Cameron D. , Ganco Martin
Published: January 2023

Research Summary

Platform owners often use endorsements to actively manage complementor firms. We argue that the direct network effects of complementors' products play a central role in the platform management by its owner. We test our predictions using data on the Apple's promotion of apps. We find that apps with network effects are more likely to receive an award. This likelihood increases when the app is introduced by a developer with a larger market share but declines when introduced in a concentrated segment. The likelihood decreases further if the app is introduced in a concentrated segment by a developer that holds a larger market share. Further, we observe that in concentrated segments, the “challenger” developer has a higher likelihood of receiving the award relative to the leader.

Managerial Summary

Many products offered through platforms have their own direct network effects. The value of the product for each user grows with the number of other consumers using the product. Many platform owners also actively manage their platforms to ensure platform growth and often use less traditional tools such as product endorsements to achieve this goal. In the context of video games listed in the iOS App Store and the Editors' Choice Awards as a form of product endorsement, we examine the tradeoffs that products with direct network effects (i.e., multiplayer video games) present to the platform owner (Apple). On the one hand, the platform owner may want to promote apps with direct network effects to help them achieve a momentum in terms of user growth. On the other hand, networked apps may become dominant in the segment with negative implications for future growth of the segment and the platform owner's profitability. We find evidence consistent with this tension and find that it critically depends on the complementor strength and market segment concentration. We also observe that in concentrated segments, the “challenger” developer has a higher likelihood of receiving the award relative to the leader.
Wide‐Field Three‐Dimensional Depth‐Invariant Cellular‐Resolution Imaging of the Human Retina
Authors: Lee ByungKun , Jeong Sunhong , Lee Joosung , Kim Tae Shik , Braaf Boy , Vakoc Benjamin J. , Oh Wang‐Yuhl
Published: January 2023

Three‐dimensional (3D) cellular‐resolution imaging of the living human retina over a large field of view will bring a great impact in clinical ophthalmology, potentially finding new biomarkers for early diagnosis and improving the pathophysiological understanding of ocular diseases. While hardware‐based and computational adaptive optics (AO) optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been developed to achieve cellular‐resolution retinal imaging, these approaches support limited 3D imaging fields, and their high cost and intrinsic hardware complexity limit their practical utility. Here, this work demonstrates 3D depth‐invariant cellular‐resolution imaging of the living human retina over a 3 × 3 mm field of view using the first intrinsically phase‐stable multi‐MHz retinal swept‐source OCT and novel computational defocus and aberration correction methods. Single‐acquisition imaging of photoreceptor cells, retinal nerve fiber layer, and retinal capillaries is presented across unprecedented imaging fields. By providing wide‐field 3D cellular‐resolution imaging in the human retina using a standard point‐scan architecture routinely used in the clinic, this platform proposes a strategy for expanded utilization of high‐resolution retinal imaging in both research and clinical settings.
Urchin‐Like Structured MoO2/Mo3P/Mo2C Triple‐Interface Heterojunction Encapsulated within Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Xiao Jiamin , Zhang Shishi , Sun Yanyan , Liu Xuetao , He Guangling , Liu Heng , Khan Javid , Zhu Yanlin , Su Yaqiong , Wang Shuangyin , Han Lei
Published: January 2023

The development of highly efficient and cost‐effective hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts is highly desirable to efficiently promote the HER process, especially under alkaline condition. Herein, a polyoxometalates‐organic‐complex‐induced carbonization method is developed to construct MoO2/Mo3P/Mo2C triple‐interface heterojunction encapsulated into nitrogen‐doped carbon with urchin‐like structure using ammonium phosphomolybdate and dopamine. Furthermore, the mass ratio of dopamine and ammonium phosphomolybdate is found critical for the successful formation of such triple‐interface heterojunction. Theoretical calculation results demonstrate that such triple‐interface heterojunctions possess thermodynamically favorable water dissociation Gibbs free energy (ΔGH2O) of ‐1.28 eV and hydrogen adsorption Gibbs free energy (ΔGH*) of ‐0.41 eV due to the synergistic effect of Mo2C and Mo3P as water dissociation site and H* adsorption/desorption sites during the HER process in comparison to the corresponding single components. Notably, the optimal heterostructures exhibit the highest HER activity with the low overpotential of 69 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a small Tafel slope of 60.4 mV dec−1 as well as good long‐term stability for 125 h. Such remarkable results have been theoretically and experimentally proven to be due to the synergistic effect between the unique heterostructures and the encapsulated nitrogen‐doped carbon.
Application of Nanomaterials in Stem Cell‐Based Therapeutics for Cardiac Repair and Regeneration
Authors: Qiu Jie , Liu Xiang‐Ju , You Bei‐An , Ren Na , Liu Hong
Published: January 2023

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Although the survival rate of patients with heart diseases can be improved with contemporary pharmacological treatments and surgical procedures, none of these therapies provide a significant improvement in cardiac repair and regeneration. Stem cell‐based therapies are a promising approach for functional recovery of damaged myocardium. However, the available stem cells are difficult to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, which result in the extremely low transplantation efficiency. Nanomaterials are widely used to regulate the myocardial differentiation of stem cells, and play a very important role in cardiac tissue engineering. This study discusses the current status and limitations of stem cells and cell‐derived exosomes/micro RNAs based cardiac therapy, describes the cardiac repair mechanism of nanomaterials, summarizes the recent advances in nanomaterials used in cardiac repair and regeneration, and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of the relevant nanomaterials. Besides discussing the potential clinical applications of nanomaterials in cardiac therapy, the perspectives and challenges of nanomaterials used in stem cell‐based cardiac repair and regeneration are also considered. Finally, new research directions in this field are proposed, and future research trends are highlighted.
Engineering Second‐Order Corner States in 2D Multiferroics
Authors: Bai Yingxi , Mao Ning , Li Runhan , Dai Ying , Huang Baibiao , Niu Chengwang
Published: January 2023

The understanding and manipulate of the second‐order corner states are central to both fundamental physics and future topotronics applications. Despite the fact that numerous second‐order topological insulators (SOTIs) are achieved, the efficient engineering in a given material remains elusive. Here, the emergence of 2D multiferroics SOTIs in SbAs and BP5 monolayers is theoretically demonstrated, and an efficient and straightforward way for engineering the nontrivial corner states by ferroelasticity and ferroelectricity is remarkably proposed. With ferroelectric polarization of SbAs and BP5 monolayers, the nontrivial corner states emerge in the mirror symmetric corners and are perpendicular to orientations of the in‐plane spontaneous polarization. And remarkably the spatial distribution of the corner states can be effectively tuned by a ferroelastic switching. At the intermediate states of both ferroelectric and ferroelastic switchings, the corner states disappear. These finding not only combines exotic SOTIs with multiferroics but also pave the way for experimental discovery of 2D tunable SOTIs.
Super‐Bright Green Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes Using Ionic Liquid Additives
Authors: Sadhukhan Priyabrata , Kim Min Seong , Baek Sung‐Doo , Myoung Jae‐Min
Published: January 2023

Halide perovskites have potential for use in next‐generation low‐cost, high‐efficiency, and highly color‐pure light‐emitting diodes (LED) that can be used in various applications, such as flat and flexible displays and solid‐state lighting. However, they still lag behind other mature technologies, such as organic LEDs and inorganic LEDs, in terms of performance, particularly brightness. This lag is partly due to the insulating nature of the long‐chain organic ligands used to control the perovskite‐film morphology. Herein, a 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid (IL) is incorporated as a potential additive with CsPbBr3 perovskite precursors, which results in a super‐bright green perovskite light emitting diode (PeLED) achieving a peak luminance of 3.28 × 105 cd m−2 only at a bias voltage of 6 V, with a peak external quantum efficiency of 13.75%. This achievement is the outcome of multirole support from IL that simultaneously enables superior control over the perovskite‐film morphology, passivates defects, modifies the band energy levels, and prevents ion migration. Hence, this work demonstrates IL as a novel alternative additive with the potential to outperform conventional long‐chain ligands in high‐performance PeLED device fabrication.
Identifying potential stakeholders for the management of Lower Mgeta and Upper Zigi water catchments of Tanzania, East Africa
Authors: Lema Meserecordias W. , Kapinga Agnes G.
Published: January 2023

Community participation in natural resources management is a basis for sustainable management of these resources. However, the question of which actors/assets within communities are more connected to the natural resources based on their knowledge, skills and talents is not well captured. This study, therefore, combines Asset Based Community Development approach and Bio‐Cultural approach, to identify influential stakeholders in the utilization of catchment resources in Upper Zigi and Lower Mngeta catchments, in the United Republic of Tanzania. Participatory rural appraisal tools; participatory bio‐physical resource mapping (PBRM) and participatory community asset mapping (PCAM) were used for data collection. Similar observations were made in both study sites, that, the most influential community assets were traditional healers, traditional dancers, hunters, Village Government, fishermen, farmers and family, and therefore, these most influential community assets should get involved in the management of catchment resources because they are true representatives of the community.
Subpoenas and the new registrar, Part 2
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: January 2023

Last month I began describing my somewhat harrowing experience when I received my first FERPA subpoena in 1976. I admitted that I didn't know what to do. But I learned quickly with the help of an attorney who was an instructor at my university. Essentially, the subpoena demanded that I provide the academic record of a student within a week of receiving the subpoena.
Montclair's Jordanna Maziarz: Taking the stress out of college applications
Authors: D'Orio Wayne
Published: January 2023

For many admissions officers, the big goals of their profession seemed fixed: increase applicants and ensure your college has a full freshman class. While it's true some schools are trying to increase their class sizes while others are attempting to become more selective, the rules to follow seem pretty well defined in this space.
Continuous and discontinuous contact problem of a functionally graded orthotropic layer indented by a rigid cylindrical punch: Analytical and finite element approaches
Authors: Karabulut Pembe Merve , Çömez İsa
Published: January 2023

In this study, the continuous and discontinuous contact problems of a functionally graded (FG) orthotropic layer lying on a homogeneous and isotropic layer were investigated. The orthotropic layer was indented by a rigid cylindrical punch which was subjected to a concentrated normal force, and a homogeneous isotropic layer was firmly attached to a rigid substrate. For the analytical solution, the general expressions for the stresses and displacements were obtained in the presence of body forces by using elasticity theory and Fourier integral transforms. The continuous and discontinuous contact problems were reduced to the singular integral equations by means of boundary conditions. The system of the singular integral equations was solved using the Gauss‐Chebyshev integration formula. Then, the finite element solution of the two cases was also performed. Analytical results and numerical results (FEM) for critical load, initial separation distance, separation region in discontinuous contact, contact lengths under the punch, and contact stress distributions between the layer‐punch and layer‐layer were obtained for the dimensionless quantities.
Dateninfrastrukturen für die Gesundheitsforschung
Authors: Schickhardt Christoph , Winkler Eva , Sax Ulrich , Buchner Benedikt
Published: January 2023

Die Rolle von Dateninfrastrukturen für die Gesundheitsforschung beschränkt sich nicht allein darauf, als Service oder Schnittstelle für den Datenaustausch zwischen Datenerzeuger:innen und -nutzer:innen zu fungieren. Die Infrastruktur ist vielmehr selbst ein Akteur im Prozess des Datenteilens, der für diesen auch entsprechend Verantwortung trägt.

Dies gilt zuallererst für die Rechtmäßigkeit der Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten. Fußt die Datenverarbeitung auf einer Einwilligung der betroffenen Person, ist auch seitens der Infrastruktur sicherzustellen, dass sämtliche Datenverarbeitungsprozesse von dieser Einwilligung erfasst sind. Stützt sich die Datenverarbeitung auf einen gesetzlichen Erlaubnistatbestand, müssen im Rahmen der Infrastruktur v. a. technische und organisatorische Maßnahmen ergriffen werden, damit ein möglichst hohes Datenschutzniveau sichergestellt ist. Zudem fällt der Infrastruktur eine Verantwortung zu, wenn es um die Umsetzung von Betroffenenrechten wie Auskunft, Berichtigung oder Löschung von Daten geht und um den Umgang mit Zufalls- und Zusatzbefunden.

Die Frage, mit welchem Selbstverständnis sich Forscher:innen in Infrastrukturprojekte einbringen und in welcher Form auch privatwirtschaftliche Unternehmen in solcherlei Projekte eingebunden werden sollen, muss sich am Gemeinwohl orientieren. Damit einher geht die Verpflichtung, dass Infrastrukturen so weit wie möglich an den Prinzipien der Partizipation, der Transparenz und der Wissenschaftskommunikation ausgerichtet sind. Die Beachtung all dieser ethischen und rechtlichen Aspekte ist vor allem auch deshalb wichtig, weil nur auf diese Weise das Vertrauen aller Stakeholder gewonnen und damit die zentrale Basis für den erfolgreichen Aufbau und Betrieb einer Dateninfrastruktur geschaffen werden kann.