bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post COVID-19 symptoms are common, also among young adults in the general population
Authors: Mogensen Ida , Ekström Sandra , Hallberg Jenny , Georgelis Antonios , Melén Erik , Bergström Anna , Kull Inger
Published: July 2023

Post coronavirus disease-19 (post COVID-19) is mainly studied in clinical populations and less is known about post COVID-19 in a young general population. The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence and symptoms of post COVID-19 and its potential risk factors in young adults. Participants from the Swedish population-based birth cohort BAMSE were included (n = 2022, mean age 26.5 years). Post COVID-19 was assessed through a questionnaire and defined as symptoms after confirmed COVID-19 (registry-based or self-reported positive test) lasting for ≥ 2 months. In total, 681 participants had had confirmed COVID-19. Among them, 112 (16.5%) fulfilled the definition of post COVID-19 (17.8% in females, 14.5% in males, p = 0.26). The most common post COVID-19 symptoms were altered smell and taste (68.8%), dyspnea (33.7%) and fatigue (30.4%). Overall, no major risk factors for post COVID-19 were identified except for being bedbound during COVID-19. However, asthma and rhinitis were associated with the post COVID-19 symptom dyspnea, migraine with altered smell and taste, and lower self-rated health with fatigue. In conclusion, post COVID-19 symptoms are common, also among young adults in the general population. Although not life-threatening, it could have a considerable impact on public health due to the high prevalence and long-term symptoms.
Evaluation of electric phrenic nerve stimulation patterns for mechanical ventilation: a pilot study
Authors: Lohse Arnhold , von Platen Philip , Benner Carl-Friedrich , Deininger Matthias Manfred , Seemann Teresa Gertrud , Ziles Dmitrij , Breuer Thomas , Leonhardt Steffen , Walter Marian
Published: July 2023

Diaphragm atrophy is a common side effect of mechanical ventilation and results in prolonged weaning. Electric phrenic nerve stimulation presents a possibility to avoid diaphragm atrophy by keeping the diaphragm conditioned in sedated patients. There is a need of further investigation on how to set stimulation parameters to achieve sufficient ventilation. A prototype system is presented with a systematic evaluation for stimulation pattern adjustments. The main indicator for efficient stimulation was the tidal volume. The evaluation was performed in two pig models. As a major finding, the results for biphasic pulses were more consistent than for alternating pulses. The tidal volume increased for a range of pulse frequency and pulse width until reaching a plateau at 80–120 Hz and 0.15 ms. Furthermore, the generated tidal volume and the stimulation pulse frequency were significantly correlated (0.42–0.84, $$p<0.001$$

p
<
0.001

). The results show which stimulation parameter combinations generate the highest tidal volume. We established a guideline on how to set stimulation parameters. The guideline is helpful for future clinical applications of phrenic nerve stimulation.
Settlement relationships and their morphological homogeneity across time and scale
Authors: Räth Yves M. , Grêt-Regamey Adrienne , Jiao Chenjing , Wu Sidi , van Strien Maarten J.
Published: July 2023

Homogeneous settlement morphologies negatively impact urban vibrancy, the environment, and emotions. Mainly resulting from the separation of functions such as work and living, homogeneous settlements have often been found around large cities. However, it remains unknown whether this phenomenon occurs in settlements of any size and persisted over time. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the internal structures of settlements and their location within a settlement network at a large spatial scale and a fine resolution, over seven time steps covering 120 years of settlement development. Using building footprints and road geometries from historical maps of the Swiss Plateau in combination with historical travel speeds, we analyzed networks at both the local- (building networks) and the regional-scale (settlement networks). Our findings show that particularly small settlements located near larger settlements exhibit a high degree of morphological homogeneity, and that this pattern persisted since the early twentieth century despite strong changes in mobility. These results suggest that the position of a settlement within a settlement network can have an impact on its morphological homogeneity, which in turn can have consequences for the functionality and livability of the settlement and provides useful insight to the development of settlements.
Humans strategically avoid connecting to others who agree and avert the emergence of network polarization in a coordination task
Authors: Gradwohl Nico , Strandburg-Peshkin Ariana , Giese Helge
Published: July 2023

Clusters of like-minded individuals can impede consensus in group decision-making. We implemented an online color coordination task to investigate whether control over communication links creates clusters impeding group consensus. In 244 6-member networks, individuals were incentivized to reach a consensus by agreeing on a color, but had conflicting incentives for which color to choose. We varied (1) if communication links were static, changed randomly over time, or were player-controlled; (2) whether links determined who was observed or addressed; and (3) whether a majority existed or equally many individuals preferred each color. We found that individuals preferentially selected links to previously unobserved and disagreeing others, avoiding links with agreeing others. This prevented cluster formation, sped up consensus formation rather than impeding it, and increased the probability that the group agreed on the majority incentive. Overall, participants with a consensus goal avoided clusters by applying strategies that resolved uncertainty about others.
Midgut transcriptomic responses to dengue and chikungunya viruses in the vectors Aedes albopictus and Aedes malayensis
Authors: Modahl Cassandra M. , Chowdhury Avisha , Low Dolyce H. W. , Manuel Menchie C. , Missé Dorothée , Kini R. Manjunatha , Mendenhall Ian H. , Pompon Julien
Published: July 2023

Dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses are among the most preponderant arboviruses. Although primarily transmitted through the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus and Aedes malayensis are competent vectors and have an impact on arbovirus epidemiology. Here, to fill the gap in our understanding of the molecular interactions between secondary vectors and arboviruses, we used transcriptomics to profile the whole-genome responses of A. albopictus to CHIKV and of A. malayensis to CHIKV and DENV at 1 and 4 days post-infection (dpi) in midguts. In A. albopictus, 1793 and 339 genes were significantly regulated by CHIKV at 1 and 4 dpi, respectively. In A. malayensis, 943 and 222 genes upon CHIKV infection, and 74 and 69 genes upon DENV infection were significantly regulated at 1 and 4 dpi, respectively. We reported 81 genes that were consistently differentially regulated in all the CHIKV-infected conditions, identifying a CHIKV-induced signature. We identified expressed immune genes in both mosquito species, using a de novo assembled midgut transcriptome for A. malayensis, and described the immune architectures. We found the JNK pathway activated in all conditions, generalizing its antiviral function to Aedines. Our comprehensive study provides insight into arbovirus transmission by multiple Aedes vectors.
Complex relationships between soybean trade destination and tropical deforestation
Authors: da Silva Ramon Felipe Bicudo , Moran Emilio F. , Millington James D. A. , Viña Andrés , Liu Jianguo
Published: July 2023

Over the last few years, understanding of the effects of increasingly interconnected global flows of agricultural commodities on coupled human and natural systems has significantly improved. However, many important factors in environmental change that are influenced by these commodity flows are still not well understood. Here, we present an empirical spatial modelling approach to assess how changes in forest cover are influenced by trade destination. Using data for soybean-producing municipalities in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, between 2004 and 2017, we evaluated the relationships between forest cover change and the annual soybean trade destination. Results show that although most of the soybean produced in Mato Grosso during the study period (60%) was destined for international markets, municipalities with greater and more consistent soybean production not destined for international markets during the study period were more strongly associated with deforestation. In these municipalities, soybean production was also significantly correlated with cattle and pasture expansion. These results have important implications for the sustainable management of natural resources in the face of an increasingly interconnected world, while also helping to identify the most suitable locations for implementing policies to reduce deforestation risks.
Biodiesel production from Sisymbrium irio as a potential novel biomass waste feedstock using homemade titania catalyst
Authors: Jan Hammad Ahmad , Osman Ahmed I. , Al-Fatesh Ahmed S. , Almutairi Ghzzai , Surina Igor , Al-Otaibi Raja Lafi , Al-Zaqri Nabil , Kumar Rawesh , Rooney David W.
Published: July 2023

Biomass waste streams are a possible feedstock for a range of eco-friendly products and a crucial alternative energy source for achieving carbon neutrality; therefore, the efficient management of biomass waste has taken on a greater significance in recent years. Due to its well-comparable physic-chemical properties with fossil diesel, biodiesel is a potential substitute for fossil fuel. This study aimed to synthesize biodiesel from the widely available non-edible seed oil of Sisymbrium irio L. (a member of the Brassicaceae family) via a transesterification procedure over a homemade TiO2 catalyst. At 1:16 oil to methanol ratio, 93% biodiesel yield was obtained over 20 mg catalyst at 60 °C and 60 min. The ASTM methods were used to analyze the fuel properties. The quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed by FT-IR, GC-MS, and NMR spectroscopy. GC-MS study confirms 16 different types of fatty acids of methyl esters. FT-IR analysis showed important peaks that confirm the successful occurrence of biodiesel. 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR showed important peaks for converting triglycerides into corresponding FAMEs. The acid value (0.42 mg KOH/mg/kg), flash point (106 °C), and water content (0.034) of biodiesel are below the specified limit of ASTM D6751 whereas kinetic viscosity (3.72 mm2/s), density (0.874 kg/L), cloud point (− 4.3 °C) and pour point (− 9.6 °C) and high heating value (41.62 MJ/kg) fall within the specified range of ASTM D6751 test limit. The Unsaturation degree and oxidative stability of biodiesel are above ASTM D6751 test limit. The physic-chemical properties of the SIB confirm that it is eco-friendly fuel and a competitive source for manufacturing biodiesel on a commercial scale. Furthermore, the SIB is engine friendly and has good fuel efficacy.
Association of Rahnella victoriana, Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. hoffmannii and Citrobacter braakii with walnut decline
Authors: Hajialigol Mohammadreza , Falahi Charkhabi Nargues , Shahryari Fatemeh , Sarikhani Saadat
Published: July 2023

Persian walnut (Juglans regia) has a considerable economic importance worldwide. However, the vigor and vitality of walnut trees were heavily affected by bark canker during the last few years. Irregular longitudinal cankers in the outer bark, stem tissue necrosis, and bleeding with black-colored exudates walnut trees were observed in Kermanshah, Hamedan, Markazi, Alborz, Isfahan, Qom, Semnan, and Razavi Khorasan provinces in western, central and eastern Iran during 2018 and 2019. A total of 150 symptomatic samples were collected from affected walnut trees in order to identify bacteria associated with walnut decline. Two-hundred sixty strains with a metallic green sheen were isolated on EMB-agar medium. The pathogenicity of all strains was proved by inoculating a suspension of the bacterial strains under the bark of immature walnut fruits cv. ‘Hartley’. Ninety-five strains caused necrosis and a dark-colored region in the mesocarp around the inoculation site 14 days post-inoculation. Moreover, 12 representative strains induced necrotic and black-colored tissues in the bark of young green twigs of two-year old walnut seedling cv. ‘Chandler’. The strains were classified into four categories based on conventional phenotypic characters confirmed with the 16S rRNA gene sequences. A phylogenetic tree based on the concatenated sequences of two housekeeping gene fragments, gyrB and infB, indicated that strains including I1, Q6, and S6 were grouped in a cluster with Gibbsiella quercinecans FBR97T as well as strains I2, I5, and KE6 were clustered with Rahnella victoriana FRB 225T. Moreover, strains MR1, MR3, and MR5 were grouped with the Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. hoffmannii DSM 14563T. The phylogenetic analyses based on the partial sequencing of housekeeping genes including fusA, pyrG, and leuS revealed that strains KH1, KH3, and KH7 belong to Citrobacter braakii species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. braakii and E. hormaechei as plant pathogens and R. victoriana associated with walnut decline.
A punctuated equilibrium analysis of the climate evolution of cenozoic exhibits a hierarchy of abrupt transitions
Authors: Rousseau Denis-Didier , Bagniewski Witold , Lucarini Valerio
Published: July 2023

The Earth’s climate has experienced numerous critical transitions during its history, which have often been accompanied by massive and rapid changes in the biosphere. Such transitions are evidenced in various proxy records covering different timescales. The goal is then to identify, date, characterize, and rank past critical transitions in terms of importance, thus possibly yielding a more thorough perspective on climatic history. To illustrate such an approach, which is inspired by the punctuated equilibrium perspective on the theory of evolution, we have analyzed 2 key high-resolution datasets: the CENOGRID marine compilation (past 66 Myr), and North Atlantic U1308 record (past 3.3 Myr). By combining recurrence analysis of the individual time series with a multivariate representation of the system based on the theory of the quasi-potential, we identify the key abrupt transitions associated with major regime changes that separate various clusters of climate variability. This allows interpreting the time-evolution of the system as a trajectory taking place in a dynamical landscape, whose multiscale features describe a hierarchy of metastable states and associated tipping points.
Zero-determinant strategy in stochastic Stackelberg asymmetric security game
Authors: Cheng Zhaoyang , Chen Guanpu , Hong Yiguang
Published: July 2023

In a stochastic Stackelberg asymmetric security game, the strong Stackelberg equilibrium (SSE) strategy is a popular option for the defender to get the highest utility against an attacker with the best response (BR) strategy. However, the attacker may be a boundedly rational player, who adopts a combination of the BR strategy and a fixed stubborn one. In such a condition, the SSE strategy may not maintain the defensive performance due to the stubbornness. In this paper, we focus on how the defender can adopt the unilateral-control zero-determinate (ZD) strategy to confront the boundedly rational attacker. At first, we verify the existence of ZD strategies for the defender. We then investigate the performance of the defender’s ZD strategy against a boundedly rational attacker, with a comparison of the SSE strategy. Specifically, when the attacker’s strategy is close to the BR strategy, the ZD strategy admits a bounded loss for the defender compared with the SSE strategy. Conversely, when the attacker’s strategy is close to the stubborn strategy, the ZD strategy can bring higher defensive performance for the defender than the SSE strategy does.
Longitudinal analysis of social isolation effects on finger tapping in the Blursday database
Authors: Gallego Hiroyasu Elisa M. , Laje Rodrigo , Nomura Keishi , Spiousas Ignacio , Hayashi Masamichi J. , Yotsumoto Yuko
Published: July 2023

The Blursday database is a collection of data obtained online from a longitudinal study where participants were asked to participate in several behavioral tasks and questionnaires during the COVID-19 pandemic from their homes. In this study, we analyzed the published data to explore (1) the longitudinal changes in temporal cognition observed from the data collected in the home-based setting (2), the effects of the voluntary quarantine measures implemented in Japan on temporal cognition, (3) whether the participant’s temporal cognition is altered by the change in their psychological state or their cognitive abilities, and (4) whether the effects of the quarantine measures depend on the age of the individual. Results show that confinement measures were good predictors for the performance in both spontaneous finger-tapping task and paced finger-tapping task, though these were dependent on the age of the participant. In addition, cognitive scores were good predictors of the performance in the paced finger-tapping task but not the spontaneous finger-tapping task. Overall, this study provides evidence suggesting changes in both psychological, cognitive, and temporal cognition during the pandemic on the Japanese population despite its voluntary measures to deal with the new situation.
Centripetal nuclear shape fluctuations associate with chromatin condensation in early prophase
Authors: Introini Viola , Kidiyoor Gururaj Rao , Porcella Giancarlo , Cicuta Pietro , Cosentino Lagomarsino Marco
Published: July 2023

The nucleus plays a central role in several key cellular processes, including chromosome organisation, DNA replication and gene transcription. Recent work suggests an association between nuclear mechanics and cell-cycle progression, but many aspects of this connection remain unexplored. Here, by monitoring nuclear shape fluctuations at different cell cycle stages, we uncover increasing inward fluctuations in late G2 and in early prophase, which are initially transient, but develop into instabilities when approaching the nuclear-envelope breakdown. We demonstrate that such deformations correlate with chromatin condensation by perturbing both the chromatin and the cytoskeletal structures. We propose that the contrasting forces between an extensile stress and centripetal pulling from chromatin condensation could mechanically link chromosome condensation with nuclear-envelope breakdown, two main nuclear processes occurring during mitosis.
Limits of the phonon quasi-particle picture at the cubic-to-tetragonal phase transition in halide perovskites
Authors: Fransson Erik , Rosander Petter , Eriksson Fredrik , Rahm J. Magnus , Tadano Terumasa , Erhart Paul
Published: July 2023

The soft modes associated with continuous-order phase transitions are associated with strong anharmonicity. This leads to the overdamped limit where the phonon quasi-particle picture can break down. However, this limit is commonly restricted to a narrow temperature range, making it difficult to observe its signature feature, namely the breakdown of the inverse relationship between the relaxation time and damping. Here we present a physically intuitive picture based on the relaxation times of the mode coordinate and its conjugate momentum, which at the instability approach infinity and the inverse damping factor, respectively. We demonstrate this behavior for the cubic-to-tetragonal phase transition of the inorganic halide perovskite CsPbBr3 via molecular dynamics simulations, and show that the overdamped region extends almost 200 K above the transition temperature. Further, we investigate how the dynamics of these soft phonon modes change when crossing the phase transition.
Emergent governance responses to shocks to critical provisioning systems
Authors: Eakin Hallie , Hamann Ralph , Ziervogel Gina , Shearing Clifford
Published: July 2023

The structure and functioning of formal and informal governance arrangements and associated infrastructure prior to major environmental disturbance play a central role in how cities experience and respond to such events. This paper considers how city managers, businesses, and residents responded to two disturbances experienced in the City of Cape Town—a drought-induced water crisis and a pandemic crisis (COVID-19) that followed a year later—and the consequences of these actions for infrastructural assets and governance innovations. Our analysis suggests that efforts aimed at transformative change in these provisioning systems require attention to the existing and potential roles and responsibilities of private and public sector actors, as well as the associated distribution of risks and rewards. Furthermore, polycentric and decentralized governance arrangements, which are often thought to be most flexible in the face of shocks, are not always feasible or desirable to actors with a stake in resource governance.
Supportive Aspects of Online Learning and Teaching—What Does a Rapid Transition Teach Us?
Authors: Ho Felix M. , Ibraj Krenare , Graulich Nicole
Published: July 2023

Facilitating the transition to digital teaching and learning requires more than providing access to technical equipment and digital content. For students, the challenges they encounter influence how they benefit from digital learning scenarios in chemistry. The rapid transition into online learning, as experienced in spring 2020, serves as a magnifying glass to determine supportive aspects of digital learning and teaching. This chapter explores the perspective of students on the challenges and supportive factors in the transition to online learning. It also describes a model for teaching support that addressed the needs of instructors, with two case descriptions. One case highlights the students’ perspective from an interview study with second-year chemistry students from across four countries, on how they adjusted to and resolved challenges while learning chemistry digitally. The results provide interesting insights into creating favourable pre-conditions for digital chemistry learning and teaching. The second case illustrates an example of a multi-tiered network model. This model was founded for supporting faculty in digital teaching that goes beyond generic technical tips and tricks, catering instead for discipline-specific support at the local level that also connects to and informs broader initiatives at a higher institutional level.
A Framework for Learning to Teach Chemistry on a Digital Platform: The Case of Chemical Equilibrium
Authors: Mavhunga E. , Rollnick M. , van der Merwe D.
Published: July 2023

Traditional discipline-based pedagogies for teaching science are increasingly becoming insufficient because of the accelerated digitization of our society. This chapter introduces digital-Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge (d-TSPCK) as a theoretical construct that describes teacher knowledge for teaching science on digital teaching and learning platforms. The term d-TSPCK is conceived to refer to a complex blend of teacher knowledge that draws from discipline-based pedagogies, non-discipline based instructional technologies, and from a learning theory for multimedia contexts. We contend that this blend brings to view the fundamental idea of ‘powerful knowledge’ framed as a seamless amalgam of ‘knowings and knowns’ as the encompassing principle. We begin by presenting the conceptualization of the construct d-TSPCK as built on the powerful pedagogical gains derived from the existing centrality of the transformation of content knowledge, while allowing us to transit into the digital realm of teaching and learning. We close by illustrating the application of d-TSPCK in a teaching video on chemical equilibrium and encourage further research studies employing the construct to develop a deeper understanding of its nature.
Learning With Digital Media About the Chemistry Behind the Recycling of Digital Hardware
Authors: Huwer Johannes , Barth Catherine , Siol Antje , Eilks Ingo
Published: July 2023

Digitalizing the educational arena is a running process that got a new push due to the closing of schools and higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Germany, it is predictable that all school students will have their own tablets in the near future as digital learning tools are supported by a nationwide program called Digitalpakt Schule (in English: Digital Pact School). This development challenges education and curriculum development, but it also reinforces the question of proper recycling of the growing number of digital devices after their operation time is over—a challenge that was already acknowledged in the years before the pandemic. This chapter discusses potential issues and prospects of learning about the chemistry behind the recycling of digital devices via digital media and deals with the role of non-formal learning to support curriculum innovations in schools to encourage student learning. The chapter also deals with those students learning in less privileged environments and schools with limited resources for practical work. This approach—learning about recycling of electronic waste—contributes to the body of knowledge in chemistry education by bringing a new topic into the chemistry curriculum, and to evaluating new pathways for learning enriched by augmented and virtual reality.
Chemistry-based Information in Social Media in Light of Scientific Media Literacy—Teachers’ Views and Classroom Implementation in Secondary Education
Authors: Belova N. , Heckenthaler A. , Tietjen J. M. , Zowada C.
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this chapter is to outline the main objectives behind fostering what we call “scientific media literacy for all” with an emphasis on the critical reflection of social media in the science classroom. In this context, we present the results of an exploratory interview study with teachers (N = 8), which showed a rather skeptical attitude towards the use of social media in science classrooms. Major points of concern included a lack of experience with social media and a lack of suitable teaching materials. To bridge this gap, we present a teaching module on the topic of parabens in cosmetics which has been implemented in a secondary school in Bremen (N = 168). The aim was to show the contradiction between the representation of parabens in social media and the scientific consensus. The students gave positive feedback and highlighted the relevance of the module. The enthusiasm of the pupils contrasts with the feelings of the teachers, which is why we advocate the dissemination of such “best-practice examples” that combine science and media education.
Digital Learning Platforms: Digital Platforms for Increasing Inclusion in Chemistry Education
Authors: Blonder R.
Published: July 2023

The transition to online teaching, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a reality for all education systems worldwide. It has raised the need to better understand different web-based online environments and the pedagogy of using them. This chapter describes how the different learning environments presented here transform the way students learn chemistry and how teachers teach it. The chapters in this section highlight the high potential of digital technology in supporting a more inclusive approach to teaching chemistry. However, these examples also emphasize the important role of the teacher in personalizing the learning process toward more inclusive chemistry teaching.
Integrating Web-based Learning to Make Industrial and Everyday Life Chemistry Accessible to High-school Chemistry Students
Authors: Marchak D. , Kesner M. , Frailich M.
Published: July 2023

This chapter focuses on the “General Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry for the Service of Mankind” website and its implementation in chemistry learning in Israel. The website has been free to use since its launch, always emphasizing equity and inclusion. Here we present its rationale, development, and evolution, including its adaptation to suit the emerging needs of teachers and students as a result of the continuous changes in the chemistry curricula during a period of more than 20 years. We present findings from our large-scale research assessing learning through online activities that were specifically designed by a constructivist approach to address better understanding of complicated topics using visualization tools and connecting content to real-world issues. We show evidence of increased effectiveness of learning through these online activities, compared to traditional learning, pertaining to the subject of “Chemical Bonding”. We also describe how the website evolved to support non-formal chemistry learning at the national level through the “We Have Chemistry!” projects competition, which intended, among other goals, to make context-based chemistry learning available to all. The unusual situation that arose due to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed us to appreciate the website’s contribution and its potential more fully.
Can YouTubers Provide Powerful Tools for Addressing Heterogeneity in the Classroom? An Analysis of Videos About the Periodic Table Using the TPACK Framework
Authors: Joselevich María , Moro Pablo D. , Martínez M. Agustina
Published: July 2023

Science educators have been concerned about the lack of interest that most students show in science topics for a long time. In fact, many students replace school textbooks with videos produced by YouTubers. This is not a contradiction but evidence of a gap between formal education and students’ interests. Our purpose is to outline a general approach to collaborate with teachers to establish criteria for an appropriate selection of YouTubers’ videos. We chose to focus on a fundamental topic in teaching of chemistry: the study of concepts related to the Periodic Table. We took samples of videos produced by YouTubers and classified them into categories that we built by analogy to those defined by the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework. We analyzed the videos by using these categories in terms of two dimensions: learning styles that could be stimulated and their possible contribution to the resolution or deepening of certain misconceptions. We found that the vast majority of videos analyzed provide contextual, structured and, simultaneously, visual and verbal learning styles. However, we observed that the use of these videos to study the Periodic Table without guidance from a teacher may contribute to and deepen students’ misconceptions.
A Formalised Conceptual Model-based Approach for Fostering and Assessing Students’ Systems Thinking in Undergraduate Chemistry Education
Authors: Lavi R.
Published: July 2023

Real-world chemistry deals with complex systems, both artificial in the form of synthesized chemical products and natural in the form of chemical phenomena. Understanding these complex systems requires systems thinking—a holistic approach that views both human-made artefacts and natural phenomena as systems. In chemistry education, systems thinking looks at connections between chemical concepts, processes, and components, thus complementing traditional reductionism. This practitioner-focused chapter shows how systems thinking can be applied and taught in undergraduate chemistry education using a formalized approach adapted from systems engineering. This approach is suitable for teaching any sub-discipline of chemistry as well for multi-disciplinary teaching. This approach is demonstrated using a conceptual model created by a team of teacher–students tasked with representing a biochemical phenomenon. The modelling approach allows for representing various levels of chemistry understanding and for expressing systems thinking, which can then be analyzed. The conceptual modelling language and its software tool are free to learn via two massive open online courses available in English, Arabic, and Hebrew. The approach presented herein can potentially be modified for instruction in other fields in science, engineering, and society, as well as for teaching high school or graduate populations.
Designing Virtual Chemistry Visualizations Featuring Environmental Dilemmas to Promote Equitable Knowledge Integration
Authors: Donnelly-Hermosillo Dermot , Gerard Libby , Linn Marcia C.
Published: July 2023

Chemistry instruction involves visualizing macroscopic, microscopic, and symbolic aspects of globally important scientific phenomena including climate change, energy storage, and air and water quality. Visualizations including virtual experiments offer opportunities for teachers to enhance secondary school students’ learning of chemistry. However, there are questions about how to effectively design visualizations and guide students’ use of virtual experiments, particularly in equitable and inclusive ways. This chapter uses environmental dilemmas to illustrate how the constructivist knowledge integration (KI) pedagogy guides the design of learning technologies featuring visualizations. KI emphasizes welcoming students by building on their different cultural experiences and by encouraging them to seek coherent understandings. Visualizations have the potential to help students discover new ideas and to use evidence to distinguish among alternative views for problems that affect their lives. Teacher and automated guidance can shape students’ interactions with visualizations to promote KI. This chapter reviews existing literature to illustrate how learning technologies such as digital learning platforms, simulations, models, and virtual laboratories can strengthen instruction by incorporating visualizations of molecular interactions, diagrams, and/or graphs. We highlight how studies of personalized guidance can contribute to effective instruction for each student. We discuss how these technologies can prepare students to understand and debate glocally-important environmental issues.
Theme Introduction: Digital Assessment
Authors: Ngai C.
Published: July 2023

Over the past several decades, educators and researchers have searched for ways of assessing students’ knowledge and skills. Assessment can serve many purposes, from helping students identify gaps in their own knowledge and understanding to a summative use at the end of a course or program. The pandemic has increasingly prompted instructors to turn to digital methods of assessment, and they were challenged to translate their original forms of assessment to digital formats or to develop entirely new assessment modes. This theme is focused on the emerging practices and trends in using digital assessment to support student learning in chemistry. Digital assessment was growing in application prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that digital methods were already being used to support both learners’ and instructors’ needs. The authors in this theme investigate how digital assessment addresses these various needs. This includes exploring features that can be manipulated in digital assessment, such as varying the method and timing of providing feedback to students, and research on whether teachers feel prepared to create and implement digital assessment and how to support teachers in developing these essential skills.
‘I Felt Not So Alone’: the Impact of Muddiest Point Activities on Student Learning Outcomes Through Top Hat Technology
Authors: Muteti Caroline Z. , Mutambuki Jacinta M.
Published: July 2023

Formative assessments (FAs) are pivotal in gauging real-time progress in learning and making timely instructional adaptions to address the gaps in learning. However, collecting the evidence of learning through FA can be challenging when administered through traditional or non-digital approaches especially in large introductory science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, such as General Chemistry courses. Digital platforms such as Top Hat Technology can be employed to ease the administration of FAs and collection of evidence for learning, particularly on classroom assessment techniques (CATs). Some CATs that involve soliciting student-generated responses to address the learning gaps are time-consuming to manually administer and analyze the students’ responses. In this chapter, we describe the implementation of the muddiest point activities through the Top Hat Technology, and assessment of the impact of the activities on students’ performance and learning gains in a General Chemistry I course. Data include scores for three midterm exams and a cumulative final exam, and open-ended survey responses. Findings provide insights into the future implementation of CATs in large STEM classrooms to support learning for all students.
Supporting Chemistry Teachers in Emergency Remote Teaching—The Role of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
Authors: Shauly A. , Shwartz G. , Avargil S.
Published: July 2023

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic compelled schools to divert to emergency remote teaching. Teachers faced challenges regarding professional knowledge of learning, teaching, and assessment. Since professional learning communities (PLCs) are a rising platform for professional development and chemistry teachers’ PLCs were active during the COVID-19 crisis, the role PLCs had in supporting teachers is examined. The research goals were to describe the challenges high school chemistry teachers faced, to compare teachers’ work with the routine before the pandemic, and to describe the support aspects PLCs provided. Participants included approximately 120 teachers, from whom about 25 were part of a chemistry teacher leaders PLC, and about 55 participated in chemistry teachers PLCs operating close to their homes. Diversity was observed regarding spoken language; thus, community inclusiveness is discussed. Research tools included a questionnaire and interviews, and the analysis considered the diversity among teachers, and a comparison between the PLC member and other non-member teachers’ experiences during lockdowns. This study demonstrates the value of PLCs for enhancing teachers’ knowledge, particularly for developing collective pedagogical content knowledge. The practical recommendations made aim to improve teachers’ knowledge and communication among teachers, which will improve PLC support for all members.
Strategies for Teaching Chemistry Online: A Community of Educators for the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
Authors: DeKorver Brittland , Herrington Deborah
Published: July 2023

The sudden shift to online teaching in response to the COVID-19 pandemic created a unique environment—all at once, nearly every chemistry instructor was once again plunged into the ocean of teaching as a novice; adrift in our own classroom, floundering through new technologies, adjusting policies, facing wave after wave of new decisions and new challenges. We needed a life preserver; a community of our peers to help us navigate the uncharted waters. One venue for this support was Strategies for Teaching Chemistry Online (SFTCO), a Facebook group created in March 2020 with the purpose of supporting chemistry instructors going through this experience. This chapter explores the important features of the Facebook group that fostered a community of practice for chemistry instructors and examines the resources offered by the community using the technological pedagogical content knowledge framework. These resources include technological insights, strategies for assessment, and recommendations for inclusive practices to promote diversity. Even as instructors and students eagerly anticipate returning to face-to-face teaching, SFTCO provides the potential to be a valuable resource for chemistry instructors far beyond the pandemic.
Electrochemical biosensors based on graphene and its allied derivatives for lifestyle disease diagnosis
Authors: Singh Kshitij R. B. , Natrajan Arunadevi , Singh Jay , Singh Ravindra Pratap
Published: July 2023

Lifestyle and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are leading global public health issues, and early detection of these deadly diseases is essential to improve the life span of the affected people. The development of electrochemical biosensors with improved accuracy, sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, user-friendly, and low detection limits pave the way for a new avenue for biomedical applications. Graphene and its allied derivative have a good surface area, electrical properties, wide detection range, improved sensing performance, and stability, making it an eligible candidate for developing next-generation biosensors. This chapter discusses graphene and its derivative electrochemical properties, and their application as sensors in the biomedical field. More specifically, we deliberated about the recent enhancement of graphene and its allied derivatives in pre-diagnosis and detection of lifestyle diseases highlighting the sensing performance, mechanism, accuracy, and level of detection. Challenges of conventional and current methodologies and future perspectives of the graphene-based biosensor arena were also outlined and summarised.
Magnetic field enhancement of the FeCoSe2 photoanode for the oxygen evolution reaction by adjusting the hole density to reduce competitive adsorption between Fe and Co in a photoelectrochemical water-splitting system
Authors: Fan Ben , Yu Zebin , Ding Ling , Jiang Ronghua , Hou Yanping , Li Shuang , Chen Jianhua
Published: July 2023

FeCoSe2 has fast oxygen evolution due to polarization electric field and d-band center. However, the large adsorption energy of Fe slows the reaction. Magnetic field reduces Fe's adsorption, enhancing OER performance.
Significant effects of mixed cations on the morphology and photochemical activities of alkali–metal-antimony (Na,K)Sb3O7
Authors: Wei Donglei , Yang Xifeng , Liu Yushen , Kim Joo Hyun , Park Sung Heum , Seo Hyo Jin , Lee Bo Ram
Published: July 2023

The ratio of mixed cations has a significant effect on the morphology and photochemical activity of alkali antimony (Na,K)Sb3O7.
PtNi alloy nanoparticles grownin situon nitrogen doped carbon for the efficient oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Ye Weiqi , Wu Zhenyu , Zhang Shengqi , Sun Yi , Zhang Xiaoyan , Zhou Wei , Cao Weimin , Wang Tao , Cheng Danhong , Xie Haijiao
Published: July 2023

To lower the reaction potential barrier and enhance stability, PtNi/NC catalysts were synthesized by a simple one-pot solvothermal method. The co-effect of PtNi alloying and in situ nitrogen doping significantly enhance the ORR performance.
Emerging enzyme-based nanocomposites for catalytic biomedicine
Authors: Liu Minchao , Yu Hongyue , Zhao Tiancong , Li Xiaomin
Published: July 2023

In this review, we discuss key aspects of enzyme-based catalytic biomedicine. We also highlighted the field's challenges and provided a prospect for the rational design and application of the enzyme-based nanocomposites.
Non-extractable PFAS in functional textiles – characterization by complementary methods: oxidation, hydrolysis, and fluorine sum parameters
Authors: Zweigle Jonathan , Capitain Catharina , Simon Fabian , Roesch Philipp , Bugsel Boris , Zwiener Christian
Published: July 2023

Oxidative methods (TOP and PhotoTOP) were combined with hydrolysis (THP assay) and fluorine sum parameters (EOF and TF) to characterize side-chain fluorinated polymers (SFPs) in functional textiles.
Eliminated colistin-resistance dissemination by a carbon nanotube-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 system – a combined effect of curing plasmid and conjugation blocking
Authors: Yu Kaiqiang , Cheng Zhanwen , Sun Yuhong , Ren Hefeng , Chen Hong , Xia Yu
Published: July 2023

SWCNTs can act as vectors to transport CRISPR systems into E. coli for the treatment of mcr-1 and can also limit plasmid conjugation by reducing the energy driving force and weakening intercellular contact during transfer.
Charged nanoplastics differentially affect the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes
Authors: Wang Haiqing , Xu Yongtao , Liang Zhenda , Chen Zhiquan , Zhou Li , Yan Bing
Published: July 2023

The transfer of antibiotic resistance genes was influenced by the concentration and surface charge of nanoplastics. This was due to a combination of the promotion effect of ROS and the inhibition caused by nanoplastic agglomeration.
A new platform for rapid and indiscriminate detection of environmental pollutants based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Yao Xinyu , Lin Jingyi , Zhou Qiang , Song Yingli , Sun Tingting , Qiu Xiaohong , Cao Bo , Li Yang
Published: July 2023

In order to protect the ecological environment and human health, it is particularly important to effectively detect pollutants in environmental water.
Garlic essential oil ameliorates depression-like behaviors in unpredictable chronic mild stress by modulating the brain NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and influencing the gut barrier and microbiota
Authors: Huang Yun-Ju , Tsai Min-Shiuan , Panyod Suraphan , Liu Po-Yu , Lu Kuan-Hung , Weng Cheng-Yu , Huang Huai-Syuan , Hsu Cheng-Chih , Sheen Lee-Yan
Published: July 2023

Garlic essential oil ameliorates the UCMS-induced depressive-like behavior by blockading the NLRP3 inflammasome and altering the gut microbiota.
Hydrangenol, an active constituent of Hydrangea serrata (Thunb.) Ser., ameliorates colitis through suppression of macrophage-mediated inflammation in dextran sulfate sodium-treated mice
Authors: Kim Su-yeon , Chung Kyung-Sook , Jang Seo-Yun , Han Hee-Soo , Heo So-Won , Lee Jong Kil , Kim Hyoung Ja , Shin Yu-Kyong , Ahn Hye Shin , Lee Sun Hee , Lee Kyung-Tae
Published: July 2023

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease of the colon characterized by mucosal damage and relapsing gastrointestinal inflammation.
Lactobacillus paracasei ET-22 and derived postbiotics reduce halitosis and modulate oral microbiome dysregulation – a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Wuri Guna , Liu Fudong , Sun Zhe , Fang Bing , Zhao Wen , Hung Wei-Lian , Liu Wei-Hsien , Zhang Xiaoxu , Wang Ran , Wu Fang , Zhao Liang , Zhang Ming
Published: July 2023

Oral microbial dysbiosis is the primary etiologic factor for halitosis and it is also an important target for probiotics to improve halitosis.
Laser-based ion doping is a suitable alternative to dope biologically active ions into colloidal bioglass nanoparticles
Authors: Sutthavas Pichaporn , Schumacher Matthias , Nikody Martyna , Ramesh Vaijayanthi , Jakobi Jurij , Balmayor Elizabeth R. , Habibovic Pamela , Rehbock Christoph , Barcikowski Stephan , van Rijt Sabine
Published: July 2023

We show that pulsed laser doping is a promising technique to dope multiple ions in nBGs without negatively impacting their structure or size and that laser doping of FeSr into nBGs can improve the angiogenic properties of nBGs.
Polymorph screening at surfaces of a benzothienobenzothiophene derivative: discovering new solvate forms
Authors: James Ann Maria , McIntosh Nemo , Devaux Félix , Brocorens Patrick , Cornil Jérôme , Greco Alessandro , Maini Lucia , Pandey Priya , Pandolfi Lorenzo , Kunert Birgit , Venuti Elisabetta , Geerts Yves Henri , Resel Roland
Published: July 2023

Variation of the thin-film preparation conditions identifies application-relevant polymorphs for particular molecular materials, where crystallization at surfaces enables the discovery of additional phases compared with classical polymorph screening.
Synaptic plasticity and non-volatile memory characteristics in TiN-nanocrystal-embedded 3D vertical memristor-based synapses for neuromorphic systems
Authors: Yang Seyeong , Kim Taegyun , Kim Sunghun , Chung Daewon , Kim Tae-Hyeon , Lee Jung Kyu , Kim Sungjoon , Ismail Muhammad , Mahata Chandreswar , Kim Sungjun , Cho Seongjae
Published: July 2023

Synaptic plasticity and non-volatile memory behaviors are demonstrated in TiN-nanocrystal-embedded 3D vertical structure-type memristor synapses to realize neuromorphic systems.
Metal-free electrochemistry promoted radical cascade cyclization to access CF3-containing benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-ones
Authors: Zhang Changjun , Yu Zhichen , Ding Yuxin , Shi Yuan , Xie Yuanyuan
Published: July 2023

Using CF3SO2Na as the CF3 radical source, an eco-friendly approach for electrochemistry-mediated radical cascade cyclization of N-methacryloyl-2-phenylbenzoimidazoles was described.