bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Properties of Electrospun Aligned Poly(lactic acid)/Collagen Fibers with Nanoporous Surface for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering
Authors: Xu Tao , Zhang Xu , Dai Xiu
Published: July 2022

It is important for the functional recovery of defective nerves to construct a suitable microenvironment for nerve regeneration by optimizing the topological structure and biological functions of nerve grafts. Electrospun fibers are employed to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the effect of the porous features on fiber surface draws much attention. Yet, little is known about the effect of the nanotopology of the fiber surface in conjunction with collagen I (COL) on neural cells. Herein, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/COL hybrid fibrous membranes with a nanoporous structure on a fiber surface are fabricated. The performance of the obtained fibrous membranes is investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), water contact angle (WCA), and tensile test measurements. The cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of PLA/COL hybrid fibrous membranes and their effects on neural cells are systematically investigated. The physicochemical test results show that the PLA/COL hybrid fibrous membranes have appropriate mechanical properties and improved hydrophilicity. The MTT assay and hemolysis assay suggest the nontoxicity and good hemocompatibility of PLA/COL membranes. The nanoporous structure on the fiber surface and the introduction of COL synergistically promote proliferation and elongation of Schwann cells (SCs) and the extension of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurites.
Fabrication and Bioactivity of Peptide‐Conjugated Biomaterial Tissue Engineering Constructs
Authors: Nun Nicholas , Joy Abraham
Published: July 2022

Tissue engineering combines materials engineering, cells and biochemical factors to improve, restore or replace various types of biological tissues. A nearly limitless combination of these strategies can be combined, providing a means to augment the function of a number of biological tissues such as skin tissue, neural tissue, bones, and cartilage. Compounds such as small molecule therapeutics, proteins, and even living cells have been incorporated into tissue engineering constructs to influence biological processes at the site of implantation. Peptides have been conjugated to tissue engineering constructs to circumvent limitations associated with conjugation of proteins or incorporation of cells. This review highlights various contemporary examples in which peptide conjugation is used to overcome the disadvantages associated with the inclusion of other bioactive compounds. This review covers several peptides that are commonly used in the literature as well as those that do not appear as frequently to provide a broad scope of the utility of the peptide conjugation technique for designing constructs capable of influencing the repair and regeneration of various bodily tissues. Additionally, a brief description of the construct fabrication techniques encountered in the covered examples and their advantages in various tissue engineering applications is provided.
A Perspective on the History and Current Opportunities of Aqueous RAFT Polymerization
Authors: Fortenberry Alexander W. , Jankoski Penelope E. , Stacy Evan K. , McCormick Charles L. , Smith Adam E. , Clemons Tristan D.
Published: July 2022

Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has proven itself as a powerful polymerization technique affording facile control of molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, architecture, and chain end groups ‐ while maintaining a high level of tolerance for solvent and monomer functional groups. RAFT is highly suited to water as a polymerization solvent, with aqueous RAFT now utilized for applications such as controlled synthesis of ultra‐high molecular weight polymers, polymerization induced self‐assembly, and biocompatible polymerizations, among others. Water as a solvent represents a non‐toxic, cheap, and environmentally friendly alternative to organic solvents traditionally utilized for polymerizations. This, coupled with the benefits of RAFT polymerization, makes for a powerful combination in polymer science. This perspective provides a historical account of the initial developments of aqueous RAFT polymerization at the University of Southern Mississippi from the McCormick Research Group, details practical considerations for conducting aqueous RAFT polymerizations, and highlights some of the recent advances aqueous RAFT polymerization can provide. Finally, some of the future opportunities that this versatile polymerization technique in an aqueous environment can offer are discussed, and it is anticipated that the aqueous RAFT polymerization field will continue to realize these, and other exciting opportunities into the future.
Finite‐time disturbance observer‐based trajectory tracking control for quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle with obstacle avoidance
Authors: Li Bo , Zhang Haichao , Niu Yuxiao , Ran Dechao , Xiao Bing
Published: July 2022

This paper investigates the problem of trajectory tracking control for quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the presence of dynamic obstacles and external disturbance forces/torques. More specifically, two new sliding mode disturbance observers are firstly designed to estimate the external disturbances, in which the observation errors can converge to zero in finite time. Furthermore, utilizing the observation information, a new sliding mode surface‐like variable‐based position tracking control scheme and a novel nonsingular terminal sliding mode‐based attitude synchronization control scheme are developed to drive the UAV tracking the reference trajectory with obstacle avoiding. Moreover, the tracking errors of the close‐loop control system can converge to zero within finite time by the analyses of Lyapunov methodology. Finally, the numerical simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control schemes.
The effects of scaling strategies on the scaling of social impact: Evidence from Chinese social enterprises
Authors: Bi Xiang‐Yang , Yu Xiao‐Min
Published: July 2022

Conventional nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and social enterprises (SEs) face constant challenges when scaling their social impacts, especially in societies undergoing transformation, such as China, where NPO and SE ecosystems are still nascent. Whereas previous studies have identified various scaling approaches for SEs, empirical investigations of the linkages between scaling strategies and scaling performance are lacking. To address this gap, we conducted a quantitative study of 293 Chinese SEs to examine how the four types of scaling strategies brought about different scaling performances and how the results varied upon organizational form. Our results revealed that three of these scaling strategies, namely knowledge dissemination, organizational growth, and contractual partnerships, contributed positively and significantly to scaling performance, whereas capacity building had a positive but not statistically significant effect. Our results also indicated that the positive contributions of organizational growth and knowledge dissemination to scaling performance were reinforced in SEs organized as nonprofits. Moreover, the results indicated that SEs that deployed combined and diversified scaling strategies demonstrated better scaling performance than those that deployed just one strategy. Our findings have important managerial implications for practitioners within the SE community, and especially providing a scientific basis for the managers of nonprofit SEs to select appropriate scaling strategies.
Tap into TikTok with strategies for engaging your students
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: July 2022

TikTok is no longer just for young teenagers. In fact, a large portion of your current and prospective students — and even young alumni — likely spend more than an hour per day on the app, where they go for entertainment, for inspiration, and to learn new things, according to Morgan Campbell, Social Media Manager at Purdue University Krannert School of Management.
Take steps to prevent violations and lawsuits related to wage‐and‐hour requirements
Authors: O'Brien Timothy
Published: July 2022

One common thread that runs through almost every higher ed department is that the entire operation requires long and irregular hours, extending from the traditional workday into nights and weekends. The collective commitment of all employees to do their respective part enables each department to accomplish its varied missions.
Report examines stopped‐out students most likely to reenroll
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: July 2022

Nearly 39 million adults under the age of 65 in America have left college without completing a degree, and only 2.4% of those adults reenrolled in college during the 2020‐21 academic year. That finding comes from a recent report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, which also found that the number of stopped‐out students grew 5.3% since December 2018.
Characterization of Diastereomeric Equilibria of Pseudotetrahedral Bis[(R or S)‐N‐1‐(Ar)Ethylsalicylaldiminato‐κ2N,O]zinc(II) with Λ/Δ‐Chirality‐At‐Metal Induction
Authors: Enamullah Mohammed , Mostafizur Rahman Mohammad , Khairul Islam Mohammad , Woschko Dennis , Janiak Christoph , Pescitelli Gennaro
Published: July 2022

A family of bis[(R or S)‐N‐1‐(Ar)ethylsalicylaldiminato‐κ2N,O]‐Δ/Λ‐zinc(II) {Ar=C6H5 (ZnRL1 or ZnSL1), p‐CH3OC6H4 (ZnRL2 or ZnSL2) and p‐ClC6H4 (ZnRL3 or ZnSL3)} compounds was synthesized and investigated by multiple methods. They feature Λ/Δ‐chirality‐at‐metal induction along the pseudo‐C2 axis of the molecules. The chirality induction is quantitative in the solid state, explored by X‐ray crystallography and powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), where R or S‐ligated complexes diastereoselectively yield Λ or Δ‐configuration at the metal. On the other hand, Λ and Δ‐diastereomers co‐exist in solution. The Λ⇆Δ equilibrium is solvent‐ and temperature‐dependent. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra confirm the existence of a diastereomeric excess of Λ‐ZnRL1−3 or Δ‐ZnSL1−3 in solution. DSC analysis reveals thermally induced irreversible phase transformation from a crystalline solid to an isotropic liquid phase. ECD spectra were reproduced by DFT geometry optimizations and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) calculations, providing ultimate proof of the dominant chirality atmetal in solution.
Intraoral ultrasonography for gingival squamous cell carcinoma: Tumor thickness and bone invasion
Authors: Minami Yoshiyuki , Okada Yasuo , Ogura Ichiro
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of intraoral ultrasonography (US) for gingival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) thickness and bone invasion compared with computed tomography (CT).

Materials and Methods

This study assessed eight gingival squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent US and CT at our hospital from April 2021 to November 2021. Grayscale and color Doppler US were performed using a liner 14 MHz transducer. Computed tomography imaging was undergone with a 16‐multidetector CT scanner using the oral and maxillofacial protocol. The relationship between US and CT on tumor thickness of gingival SCC was assessed by Pearson's rank correlation test. A p value lower than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

Presence or absence of bone invasion was consistent in CT and US. We plotted tumor thickness of gingival SCC and observed a significant correlation between tumor thickness using CT and US.

Conclusion

We showed the usefulness of to evaluate of tumor thickness and bone invasion using intraoral US is useful with gingival SCC.
Obesity and chronic kidney disease: A current review
Authors: Nawaz Saira , Chinnadurai Rajkumar , Al‐Chalabi Saif , Evans Philip , Kalra Philip A. , Syed Akheel A. , Sinha Smeeta
Published: July 2022

Background

Obesity poses significant challenges to healthcare globally, particularly through its bi‐directional relationship with co‐morbid metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. There is also emerging evidence of an association between obesity and chronic kidney disease (CKD) which is less well characterized.

Methods

A literature search of electronic libraries was conducted to identify and present a narrative review of the interplay between obesity and CKD.

Findings

Obesity may predispose to CKD directly as it is linked to the histopathological finding of obesity‐related glomerulopathy and indirectly through its widely recognized complications such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. The biochemical and endocrine products of adipose tissue contribute to pathophysiological processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and proteinuria. The prevention and management of obesity may prove critical in counteracting both the development and advancement of CKD. Moreover, measures of abdominal adiposity such as waist circumference, are generally associated with worse morbidity and mortality in individuals receiving maintenance hemodialysis.

Conclusion

Obesity is a risk factor for the onset and progression of CKD and should be recognized as a potential target for a preventative public health approach to reduce CKD rates within the general population. Future research should focus on the use of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists and sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with CKD and obesity due to their multi‐faceted actions on major outcomes.
Experimental investigation of skin toxicity after immune checkpoint inhibition in combination with radiation therapy
Authors: Lansink Rotgerink Laura , Felchle Hannah , Feuchtinger Annette , Nefzger Sophie M , Walther Caroline N , Gissibl Julia , Steiger Katja , Schmid Thomas E , Heidegger Simon , Combs Stephanie E , Fischer Julius C
Published: July 2022

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer therapy. However, structured knowledge to mitigate a patient's specific risk of developing adverse events are limited. Nevertheless, there is an exponential growth of clinical studies combining conventional therapies such as radiation therapy (RT) with ICIs. Cutaneous reactions are among the most common adverse events after monotherapy with either ICIs or RT. So far, little is known about interindividual differences for the risk of developing severe tissue toxicity after the combination of RT with ICIs, and the underlying biological mechanisms are ill defined. We used experimental models of RT‐induced skin injury to analyze skin toxicity after simultaneous application of ICIs. We compared different RT regimens such as fractionated or stereotactic RT with varying dose intensity. Strikingly, we found that simultaneous application of RT and ICIs did not significantly aggravate acute skin injury in two different mouse strains. Detailed examination of long‐term tissue damage of the skin revealed similar signs of epidermal hyperplasia, dermal fibrosis, and adnexal atrophy. In summary, we here present the first experimental study demonstrating the excellent safety profiles of concurrent treatment with RT and ICIs. These findings will help to interpret the development of adverse events of the skin after radioimmunotherapy and guide the design of new clinical trials and clinical decision‐making in individual cases. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
A novel methodology to research the residual compressive mechanical properties of composite stiffened panel after low velocity impact based on quantification damage simulation
Authors: Xiao Shan , Wu Shibao , Xu Zhonghai , Yang Yusong , Hu Chunxing , Du Shanyi
Published: July 2022

Composite stiffened panels have become one of the most usual components in the design process of the aircraft's structure due to their splendid mechanical properties in the last decades. The main purpose of this work is investigating and presenting a more precise method to forecast the residual compressive mechanical behavior of the composite stiffened panel. First of all, an axial compression after impact (CAI) test is performed to understand the failure mechanism of different type of L‐shaped stiffened carbon fiber reinforced polymer panels with barely visible impact damage, which is introduced by the low velocity impact test. Subsequently, a finite element model, which contains a quantification damage model, is established in ABAQUS software based on the CAI test results to predict the mechanical behavior of these composite stiffened panels during the CAI test process. Both of the experimental and predicted results demonstrate that the propagation of the delamination caused by LVI is going to exert a destructive influence on the total failure of the composite stiffened panel, and the prediction results of the residual compressive strength of these composite stiffened panels are well consistent to that measured in the CAI test.
Investigation on improvement of thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties of lignin/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) using inorganic nanoparticles as fillers
Authors: Zeng Dongdong , Su Yuhang , Dong Jiaqi , Ma Xiaojun , Yu Lili , Lv Youjun
Published: July 2022

In this study, four typical biocomposites from lignin blended with poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate (PHBH) using inorganic nanoparticles (INPs) (SiO2, MMT, CaCO3, and BN) as fillers were evaluated, which enhanced the thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties of composites. The results revealed that the selection of suitable INPs doped into the lignin/PHBH (L/P) composites was an important approach to achieve available function. MMT/L/P nanocomposites were significantly higher than those of untreated L/P composites in thermal stability (Tmax exceed 10%) and barrier properties (water vapor and oxygen resistance increased by 48% and 46%), and BN particles increased the initial thermal decomposition temperature by 8%. The elongation at break of CaCO3/L/P and BN/L/P composites were increased by 344% and 319%, while SiO2/L/P composites had the best tensile strength (18.8 MPa). Besides, the INPs/L/P nanocomposites in this paper exhibited excellent ultraviolet (UV) resistance and might become potential anti‐UV packaging materials for grease foods.
Effect of amine‐reactive elastomer on the properties of poly(lactic acid) films obtained by solvent‐cast3Dprinting
Authors: Oliveira Lucas R. D. , Nonato Renato C. , Bonse Baltus C. , Morales Ana R.
Published: July 2022

Blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and amine‐terminated butadiene‐acrylonitrile (ATBN) elastomer were prepared by solution with ATBN contents of 8–20 wt%. Films were molded by liquid deposition modeling 3D printing. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the terminal carboxylic groups of the PLA chains reacted with the terminal amino groups of ATBN. Water was the byproduct of this reaction, causing PLA hydrolysis and accelerating the reaction. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that components interaction caused a loss of PLA thermal stability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the blends revealed a porous morphology and no phase separation. There was change in the elongation when compared with neat PLA. Although the addition of a telechelic elastomer could improve PLA toughness, any benefits arising from such addition seem to be neutralized by PLA chain scission due to hydrolysis and porosity, resulting from the condensation reaction.
Thepho1;2a′‐m1.1allele ofPhosphate1conditions misregulation of the phosphorus starvation response in maize (Zea maysssp.maysL.)
Authors: Alonso‐Nieves Ana Laura , Salazar‐Vidal M. Nancy , Torres‐Rodríguez J. Vladimir , Pérez‐Vázquez Leonardo M. , Massange‐Sánchez Julio A. , Gillmor C. Stewart , Sawers Ruairidh J. H.
Published: July 2022

Plant PHO1 proteins play a central role in the translocation and sensing of inorganic phosphate. The maize (Zea maysssp.mays) genome encodes two co‐orthologs of theArabidopsis PHO1gene, designatedZmPho1;2aandZmPho1;2b. Here, we report the characterization of the transposon footprint alleleZmpho1;2a′‐m1.1, which we refer to hereafter aspho1;2a. Thepho1;2aallele is a stable derivative formed by excision of anActivatortransposable element from theZmPho1;2agene. Thepho1;2aallele contains an 8‐bp insertion at the point of transposon excision that disrupts the reading frame and is predicted to generate a premature translational stop. We show that thepho1;2aallele is linked to a dosage‐dependent reduction inPho1;2atranscript accumulation and a mild reduction in seedling growth. Characterization of shoot and root transcriptomes under full nutrient, low nitrogen, low phosphorus, and combined low nitrogen and low phosphorus conditions identified 1100 differentially expressed genes between wild‐type plants and plants carrying thepho1;2amutation. Of these 1100 genes, 966 were upregulated in plants carryingpho1;2a, indicating the wild‐type PHO1;2a to predominantly impact negative gene regulation. Gene set enrichment analysis of thepho1;2a‐misregulated genes revealed associations with phytohormone signaling and the phosphate starvation response. In roots, differential expression was broadly consistent across all nutrient conditions. In leaves, differential expression was largely specific to low phosphorus and combined low nitrogen and low phosphorus conditions. Of 276 genes upregulated in the leaves ofpho1;2amutants in the low phosphorus condition, 153 were themselves induced in wild‐type plants with respect to the full nutrient condition. Our observations suggest thatPho1;2afunctions in the fine‐tuning of the transcriptional response to phosphate starvation through maintenance and/or sensing of plant phosphate status.
BenchmarkingAlphaFoldfor protein complex modeling reveals accuracy determinants
Authors: Yin Rui , Feng Brandon Y. , Varshney Amitabh , Pierce Brian G.
Published: July 2022

High‐resolution experimental structural determination of protein–protein interactions has led to valuable mechanistic insights, yet due to the massive number of interactions and experimental limitations there is a need for computational methods that can accurately model their structures. Here we explore the use of the recently developed deep learning method, AlphaFold, to predict structures of protein complexes from sequence. With a benchmark of 152 diverse heterodimeric protein complexes, multiple implementations and parameters of AlphaFold were tested for accuracy. Remarkably, many cases (43%) had near‐native models (medium or high critical assessment of predicted interactions accuracy) generated as top‐ranked predictions by AlphaFold, greatly surpassing the performance of unbound protein–protein docking (9% success rate for near‐native top‐ranked models), however AlphaFold modeling of antibody–antigen complexes within our set was unsuccessful. We identified sequence and structural features associated with lack of AlphaFold success, and we also investigated the impact of multiple sequence alignment input. Benchmarking of a multimer‐optimized version of AlphaFold (AlphaFold‐Multimer) with a set of recently released antibody–antigen structures confirmed a low rate of success for antibody–antigen complexes (11% success), and we found that T cell receptor–antigen complexes are likewise not accurately modeled by that algorithm, showing that adaptive immune recognition poses a challenge for the current AlphaFold algorithm and model. Overall, our study demonstrates that end‐to‐end deep learning can accurately model many transient protein complexes, and highlights areas of improvement for future developments to reliably model any protein–protein interaction of interest.
Fenofibrate in primary sclerosing cholangitis; a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Hatami Behzad , Mosala Mozhde , Hassani Amir Hossein , Ardakani Mohammad Javad Ehsani , Gholami Samira , Zali Mohammad Reza
Published: July 2022

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease with no medical treatment proven to improve survival and postpone liver transplantation. Previous studies have shown the effectiveness of fibrates in primary biliary cholangitis. The current study prospectively evaluated the effect of fenofibrate on PSC patients. We administered 200 mg of fenofibrate to PSC patients in the intervention arm and a placebo in the control arm once per day for 6 months and evaluated liver biochemistries (alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, and albumin) and the Mayo Risk Score at the start and end of the study. The primary endpoint was defined as a reduction greater than 50% or normalization of ALP levels. Secondary endpoints were an improvement in the Mayo Risk Score and serum bilirubin levels. Thirty patients were included (19 female, 11 male, 40.2 ± 9.2 years old), all under treatment with Ursodeoxycholic acid prior to this study. ALP and ALT levels significantly decreased in the fenofibrate group, by 64.7% (mean difference = 557, p = 0.004, 95% CI = 208.72, 905.27) and 52.78%, (p = 0.006), respectively. The primary endpoint was achieved in 66.7% of patients (10 in 15) in the fenofibrate group versus 20% of patients (3 in 15) in the placebo group (p = 0.009). Other endpoints were not met. As studies have demonstrated lower levels of ALP may improve outcomes for PSC, our study resulted in significantly lower levels of ALP in the fenofibrate group, which could translate into better disease prognosis in PSC.
Release strategies of Telenomus podisi for control of Euschistus heros: a computational modeling approach
Authors: Weber Igor Daniel , Garcia Adriano Gomes , de Freitas Bueno Adeney , de Oliveira Regiane Cristina , Godoy Wesley Augusto Conde
Published: July 2022

BACKGROUND

The egg‐parasitoid wasp Telenomus podisi has received attention as a biological‐control agent for one of the most important soybean pests in Brazil, the stink bug Euschistus heros. As yet, no studies have conclusively established strategies for the release of T. podisi. We developed a computational model using cellular automata in the C programming language to investigate release strategies for T. podisi in soybean crops, in order to optimize the use of these wasps in managing E. heros, assuming a two‐dimensional grid of cells corresponding to a soybean field.

RESULTS

The release strategies capable of maintaining an E. heros population below the Economic Threshold level involved releasing a total of at least 15 000 female parasitoids per hectare, in three or four releases of 5000 or more (equivalent to approximately 7142 or more male and female parasitoids per hectare, assuming a sex ratio of 0.70). A 25‐m spacing between release points or strips was indicated. The model is very sensitive to the variation in the number of parasitoids per release and in the number of releases, but little sensitive to the release mode and spacing values.

CONCLUSION

The theoretical results produced by the computational model are expected to guide future field studies to improve T. podisi release plans for managing E. heros in soybeans. Therefore, we recommend the release strategy of three to four releases of 5000 or more female parasitoids per hectare, at points or strips spaced 25 m apart, to be tested in field experiments for proper implementation by producers. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Where have all the ions gone, long time passing? Tandem quadrupole mass spectrometers with atmospheric pressure ionization sensitivity gains since the mid‐1970s. A perspective
Authors: Covey Tom
Published: July 2022

The gains in sensitivity since 1975 for quadrupole mass spectrometers equipped with atmospheric pressure ionization (API), and in particular triple quadrupole mass spectrometers (QqQs) since 1981, have been driven by the needs of the environmental, biomedical, agricultural, and other scientific research, industrial, regulatory, legal, and sporting communities to continually achieve lower limits of quantitation and identification. QqQs have realized a one‐million‐fold improvement in sensitivity attempting to address these needs over the past two score years. It is the purpose of this article to describe how that came about, not through an exhaustive review of the literature, but rather by describing what general approaches were used across the industry to improve sensitivity and provide some examples to illustrate its evolution. The majority of the gains came from the ion source and its interface to the vacuum system. “Sampling efficiency” is a measurement of the losses in this area so will be a focus of this review. The discovery of the phenomenon of collisional focusing was key to improving sampling efficiency because it enabled designs that increased the ion‐containing gas loads from the ion source, using staged differential pumping backed by increasingly larger pumps, and prevented the scattering losses of ions in the resulting gas expansion inside vacuum. Likewise, systems with smaller pumps and lower ion‐containing gas loads could be designed with size and cost reduction in mind while maintaining reasonable sampling efficiencies. As a consequence, advancements in the designs of both larger and smaller turbomolecular vacuum pumps were accelerated by pump manufacturers to accommodate the explosive growth in the use of API‐QqQ and API‐ion trap mass spectrometers that occurred in the 1990s and continued into the new millennium. Sampling efficiency was further improved by increasing the ion yield from electrospray by increasing the rate of droplet desolvation. An estimate of the practical limit to further sensitivity improvements beyond what has been achieved to date is provided to shed light on what to expect in the future. Lastly, the implications and unforeseen consequences of the sensitivity gains are considered with a particular focus on how they have enabled a dramatic increase in daily sample throughput on triple quadrupole and other types of mass spectrometers.
Dynamic event‐triggered strategies for tracking control of directed multi‐agent systems with Lipschitz nonlinear dynamics
Authors: Zhang Tianyong , Xu Yong , Sun Jian
Published: July 2022

This article considers synchronization of Lipschitz nonlinear multi‐agent systems under dynamic event‐triggered mechanisms in a directed network. To achieve synchronization with less requirement of communications, a distributed event‐triggered state feedback control protocol as well as corresponding dynamic event‐triggered mechanism are proposed in a directed network, where the designed dynamic event‐triggered mechanism can boil down to existing static triggering mechanisms as special examples. Then, our scheme is extended to design an observer‐based event‐triggered protocol and a dynamic triggering law when the system states are unmeasurable. It is shown that the proposed dynamic event‐triggered mechanisms can not only guarantee synchronization of Lipschitz nonlinear multi‐agent systems with Zeno‐freeness, but also avoid continuous communications among agents. Moreover, by comparing the static and dynamic trigger mechanisms, it proves that the minimum inter‐execution time of the dynamic trigger mechanism cannot be smaller than that of the static case. Finally, two numerical examples are given to verify the theoretical analysis.
A post quantum secure construction of an authentication protocol for satellite communication
Authors: Dharminder Dharminder , Dadsena Pradeep Kumar , Gupta Pratik , Sankaran Sathya
Published: July 2022

Satellite's communication system is used to communicate under significant distance and circumstances where the other communication systems are not comfortable. Since all the data are exchanged over a public channel, so the security of the data is an essential component for the communicating parties. Both key exchange and authentication are two cryptographic tools to establish a secure communication between two parties. Currently, various kinds of authentication protocols are available to establish a secure network, but all of them depend on number–theoretical (discrete logarithm problem/factorization assumption) hard assumptions. Due to Shor's and Grover's computing algorithm number theoretic assumptions are breakable by quantum computers. Although Kumar and Garg have proposed a quantum attack‐resistant protocol for satellite communication, it cannot resist stolen smart card attack. We have analyzed that how Kumar and Garg is vulnerable to the stolen smart card attack using differential power analysis attack described in He et al and Chen and Chen. We have also analyzed the modified version of signal leakage attack and sometimes called improved signal leakage attack on Kumar and Garg's protocol. We have tried to construct a secure and efficient authentication protocol for satellites communication that is secure against quantum computing. This is more efficient as it requires only three messages of exchange. This paper includes security proof and performance of the proposed authentication and key agreement protocol.
How do technological innovation and renewables shape environmental quality advancement in emerging economies: An exploration of the E7 bloc?
Authors: Onifade Stephen Taiwo , Bekun Festus Victor , Phillips Agboola , Altuntaş Mehmet
Published: July 2022

Emissions from several emerging economies currently constitute the largest contributions to the global carbon emissions levels thereby triggering concerns on the prospects for achieving global environmental sustainability‐related goals (SGDs‐13 and 11). Thus, this research examines whether technological innovation and renewables pose any moderating roles in the environmental quality advancements of rapidly emerging economies using the bloc of the emerging seven (E7) economies. The empirical framework of the study capitalizes on the strengths of the novel CS‐ARDL technique in addressing the pitfalls of cross‐sectional dependence (CD) from common factors that marred the understudied panel observations for the bloc between 1992 and 2018. The long‐run estimations provide crucial insights into the environmental sustainability dynamics of the E7 bloc. First, the observed impacts of the rapid economic expansion alongside the fast‐growing energy consumption were significantly detrimental to environmental sustainability over the period of study (1992–2018). Second, the duo of technological innovations and renewables place the E7 on an environmental sustainability path as they significantly dampen the CO2 emissions level in the bloc. Third, the inverted U‐shape growth‐emission conjecture of the EKC was confirmed for these groups of emerging economies within the innovation‐environment nexus exploration. Fourthly, although both innovations and renewable energy consumption enhance sustainability, however, the magnitude of their desirable environmental impacts is quite low compared to the observed impacts of the pollution damages created by the observed energy consumption‐driven economic growth expansion in the bloc over the years. Overall, the results are indicative that the E7 needs to do more in terms of investments in environmental‐related technological innovations and the expansion of renewables in overall energy portfolios to harness the inherent benefits of the duo to position the bloc on a sustainability path. More recommendations for environmental sustainability enhancement from technological innovation and renewable perspectives were further enunciated for the E7 bloc in the main text.
Usurious strangers and “a better tomorrow”: Agricultural loans, education, and the “poverty trap” in rural Sierra Leone
Authors: Bolten Catherine E. , Marcantonio Richard “Drew”
Published: July 2022

Rice was historically a “total social phenomenon” in Sierra Leone, molding rural identities through farming. Crop yields are rapidly declining, forcing change among people who once claimed to be “wealthy” from rice and now face severe food insecurity. In response to change, they can take out loans—offered by “strangers”—to continue farming rice, or they can “diversify” and farm alternative crops. Low rice yields largely condemn those who accept a loan to farming solely to pay their debts, a “poverty trap” that most cannot overcome. However, the majority of farmers in our study area accepted seed and tractor loans, arguing that rice is “the only way” to offer their children a better life through education—even as no children from the villages have procured waged jobs—as it is the only commercial crop that pays school fees. We argue that thinking in terms of fetishes offers a constructive analysis of the dissolution of total social phenomena. Devoting the next generation to the new “fetish” of education is paradoxically dependent on retaining one's commitment to the old fetish of rice, allowing the usurious stranger to profit from this paradox.
Research on Control Method and Variable Topology Design of Wireless Power Transmission System with Coil Offset
Authors: Zhao Jingying , Wu Changzun
Published: July 2022

Aiming at the coil offset of magnetic coupling wireless power transmission (WPT) system with the Series–Series (SS) resonance structure, in order to stabilize the transmission efficiency above 80% according to SAE J2954, Control method and variable topology design with the maximum lateral offset of 20 cm are researched on. In this paper, the mutual inductance theory is adopted to establish an equivalent circuit model of the system. The expressions of the transmission characteristics with coil offset are derived and the influence of coil offset on transmission characteristics is analyzed. According to the difference offsets, a bilateral control method with phase‐shift control on primary side and double closed‐loop control on secondary side for small offset (0, 10 cm) for constant voltage output at 200 V is adopted. In addition, a double‐sided LCC topology structure is developed for larger offset (10, 20 cm) with the maximum efficiency transmission method by parameter configuration. The simulation platform and the experiment platform are developed and the output characteristic experiments with different loads and different coupling coefficients under different offsets are finished to verify the results and provide a reference for the anti‐offset research of the system. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Genetic mapping of sorghum resistance to an Illinois isolate of Colletotrichum sublineola
Authors: Khanal Ashmita , Adhikari Pragya , Kaiser Christopher , Lipka Alexander E. , Jamann Tiffany M. , Mideros Santiago X.
Published: July 2022

Anthracnose leaf blight (ALB) is an economically important disease of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum sublineola Henn. ex Sacc. & Trotter. Although qualitative and quantitative resistance have been identified for ALB, the usefulness of resistance loci differs depending on the pathogen pathotype. Identifying resistance effective against unique pathogen pathotypes is critical to managing ALB, as the disease is managed primarily through the deployment of host resistance. We isolated C. sublineola from ALB‐infected leaves collected in Illinois and found that the strain was a novel pathotype, as it produced a unique combination of virulence against a set of differential lines. Using this isolate, we inoculated 579 temperate‐adapted sorghum conversion lines in 2019 and 2020. We then conducted a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and a metabolic pathway analysis using the Pathway Associated Study Tool (PAST). We identified 47 significant markers distributed across all chromosomes except chromosome 8. We identified 32 candidate genes based on physical proximity with significant markers, some of which have a known role in host defense. We identified 47 pathways associated with ALB resistance, indicating a role for secondary metabolism in defense to ALB. Our results are important to improve the understanding of the genetic basis of ALB resistance in sorghum and highlight the importance of developing durable resistance to ALB.
1 Rebuilding a resilient world of work after the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Dewan Sabine , Ernst Ekkehard , Kühn Stefan
Published: July 2022

Chapter 1 investigates the prospects for a global labour market recovery from the COVID‐19 crisis. It presents an analysis of factors that hold back the labour market recovery. The continuing pandemic, but also macroeconomic risks such as those related to inflation, all slow down and even threaten to derail the recovery. Unequal access to vaccines and different capacity to provide fiscal policy support created a great divergence in the recovery trajectories, with high‐income countries performing much better. The chapter also warns of the risk that the damaging impact of the pandemic on jobs and livelihoods, if not quickly reversed, will of inducing long‐term structural change with enduring adverse implications for labour markets. The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work provides a blueprint for a human‐centred agenda to overcome the crisis, address existing challenges and lead to a better future.
Exploring terms and proposing a framework for leadership learning through games
Authors: Egan John D.
Published: July 2022

To advance games as a teaching strategy, leadership educators may benefit from a common understanding of associated terms. However, achieving this purpose is complicated by no agreed upon definition of game and scholarly debate around terms such as gamification. This article explores gaming terms and proposes a framework intended to provide a common language for assessing, discussing, and writing about games for leadership learning.
Leadership learning through games in co‐curricular settings
Authors: Hill Jessica , Cebulski Adam R.
Published: July 2022

Developing leaders through games in the co‐curriculum provides an opportunity for creative and innovative program design across learning taxonomies. Game‐based learning provides a value‐added experience for busy students who are balancing competing demands on their times. Additionally, co‐curricular participants are often more receptive to less‐traditional pedagogy incorporating technology, social connections, and fun. This article offers practitioners insight into developing and assessing games for co‐curricular experiences.
Level up: Games for socially just leadership education
Authors: Nelson Sabrina , Padilla Cristina
Published: July 2022

Games are increasingly being used as a creative pedagogical tool for socially just leadership education. Game facilitators benefit from proper sequencing and heightened self‐awareness during both the game session and debrief of the experience. While scarce, examples of social justice games are provided for the reader's consideration.
Studienanfängerinnen und -anfänger im Lehramtsstudium Mathematik, ihr Studienverlauf und Studienerfolg
Authors: Gerdes Arne
Published: July 2022

Individuelle Bedingungsfaktoren des Studienerfolgs und -verlaufs von Bachelorstudierenden des gymnasialen Mathematiklehramtes werden in einer Stichprobe von Studierenden der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen von insgesamt $$n=1093$$

n
=
1093

Mathematikstudierenden des gymnasialen Lehramtes und, als Vergleich der Studierendengruppen, $$n=837$$

n
=
837

fachwissenschaftlichen Mono-Bachelorstudierenden der Mathematik untersucht. Gefragt wird nach dem Einfluss einer Auswahl an Heterogenitätsmerkmalen zu Studienbeginn, nämlich Alter, Geschlecht, Note der Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, gymnasialer Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, dem Vorliegen eines Erststudiums und der Wahl des zweiten Studienfaches, auf eine Auswahl kurz-, mittel- und langfristiger Kriterien des Studienerfolgs und -verlaufs. Hier werden Teilnahme, Bestehen und Note der Prüfungen der Pflichtveranstaltungen des ersten Semesters, Rückmeldung in das dritte Semester nach Studienbeginn und Erreichen des Studienabschlusses und ggf. zugehörige Abschlussnote in Mathematik betrachtet. Unter anderem zur besseren Beurteilungsmöglichkeit von Studienabbruchquoten wird in Hinblick auf den relativen Anteil und Gruppenunterschiede dem Phänomen von Parkstudierenden nachgegangen. Der gemeinsame Besuch von Lehramts- und fachwissenschaftlichen Studierenden von Lehrveranstaltungen zu Studienbeginn motiviert die Frage nach Unterschieden dieser beiden Studierendengruppen hinsichtlich der oben genannten Merkmale.
Program and Course Evaluation in Open, Distance, and Digital Education
Authors: dela Peña Bandalaria Melinda
Published: July 2022

Open, Distance, and Digital Education (ODDE) has potential to help educational institutions address the various challenges which usually result in the disruptions of the learning process. This system of education is flexible, agile, and resilient enough to adjust to the different contexts and also enables the academic institution to respond to some expectations like making available lifelong learning opportunities to all types of learners. There is, however, a lingering perception that ODDE is of lower quality compared to the conventional mode of education despite results of research showing otherwise which can prevent the realization of the full potential of this system of instruction.

Through an intensive review of literature, this chapter looked at how quality in ODDE was and is being articulated with respect to curricular programs and courses and how they are evaluated for quality with the goal of determining if there are gaps which need to be addressed to help dispel that perception of lower quality. Eleven Quality Assurance (QA) Frameworks developed by various organizations from different parts of the world during the last 20 years (2000–2019) were evaluated for a more focused review process. Results showed that there is a general agreement as to what constitutes quality in this system of education. For the methodologies for program and course evaluation, some improvements and innovations can be done as informed by the QA Frameworks and tapping on what information can the technology provide as in the case of learning analytics which served as basis for the recommendations made.
Human myelin proteolipid protein structure and lipid bilayer stacking
Authors: Ruskamo Salla , Raasakka Arne , Pedersen Jan Skov , Martel Anne , Škubník Karel , Darwish Tamim , Porcar Lionel , Kursula Petri
Published: July 2022

The myelin sheath is an essential, multilayered membrane structure that insulates axons, enabling the rapid transmission of nerve impulses. The tetraspan myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) is the most abundant protein of compact myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). The integral membrane protein PLP adheres myelin membranes together and enhances the compaction of myelin, having a fundamental role in myelin stability and axonal support. PLP is linked to severe CNS neuropathies, including inherited Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease and spastic paraplegia type 2, as well as multiple sclerosis. Nevertheless, the structure, lipid interaction properties, and membrane organization mechanisms of PLP have remained unidentified. We expressed, purified, and structurally characterized human PLP and its shorter isoform DM20. Synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering revealed a dimeric, α-helical conformation for both PLP and DM20 in detergent complexes, and pinpoint structural variations between the isoforms and their influence on protein function. In phosphatidylcholine membranes, reconstituted PLP and DM20 spontaneously induced formation of multilamellar myelin-like membrane assemblies. Cholesterol and sphingomyelin enhanced the membrane organization but were not crucial for membrane stacking. Electron cryomicroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction experiments for membrane-embedded PLP/DM20 illustrated effective membrane stacking and ordered organization of membrane assemblies with a repeat distance in line with CNS myelin. Our results shed light on the 3D structure of myelin PLP and DM20, their structure–function differences, as well as fundamental protein–lipid interplay in CNS compact myelin.