bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching Music in English: A Content-Based Instruction Model in Secondary Education
Authors: Bellés-Calvera Lucía
Published: September 2018

Over the past few years, there has been a growing interest in the teaching and learning of several languages in an attempt to generate multilingual education opportunities, particularly in Europe. In response to the demands of our globalized society, Content-Based Instruction (CBI), which has also been referred to as “immersion and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) programs,” emerged as a teaching approach that combines the learning of curricular contents and the communicative competence in the target language. This study was carried out at a public high school set in a Spanish bilingual community, where music is taught through a CLIL approach in English class. The purpose of this paper is to examine how students value their music lessons in English and to check the adequacy of teaching music as a subject in English. To achieve this goal, materials adapted to their level of proficiency and a final questionnaire were designed. Results indicate that students are satisfied with this proposal, since they consider these music lessons to be easier than the regular ones. Not only did they enjoy being exposed to English in these music lessons, but a considerable number of students would also like to take a CLIL program in the near future. Pedagogical implications to this CBI model account for the development of learners’ autonomy, the use of audio-visual aids and further research in bilingual and multilingual regions overseas.
Feminine Renunciation and Power in the Epiphanies of Christina Rossetti: Fat Jewel-Fruit-Orbs, Thin Aery Flame-Sails
Authors: Bidney Martin
Published: September 2018

In order to identify the recurrent structure pattern that distinguishes the visual epiphanies of Christina Rossetti in her poetry and prose fiction, Bidney's Bachelardian phenomenological method is employed to analyze the pattern's components: physical elements, movement patterns, and shapes. In a theoretical-cultural context provided by Bordo, Butler, Leighton, Merlin, Orbach, and others, the epiphanies' implications for the social psychology of anorexia in Victorian culture and in the broader scope of feminist thought are explored. Though in general the constrast is emphasized between what are felt to be epiphanies of destructive masculinity and those of redemptive femininity, one also finds a covert or ambivalent merging of the two in rebellious scenarios of feminine power assertion, though heavily qualified by the traditional negative weight of renunciation as the needed or lauded means to attain that power. Tendencies toward a subsurface androgyny, though often doomed, are fascinating to trace and to analyze, with minute attention to the blatant or subtle tensions. Theorists have generally sidestepped the food problems in Rossetti, vastly ramified though they are, in favor of more generalized or more spiritual unease. But anorexia-centered epiphanies are the places where traditional piety and Victorian moral strictures most problematically converge for her.
Evaluation of Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Innovation Performance Growth in Malaysia
Authors: Binti Mohamad Ibrahim Rashidah , Victor Abraham Abasiti , Abd Aziz Bin Wan Mohd Amin Wan
Published: September 2018

Innovation is defined as a natural renewable source accessible to all restricted only by human effort. It is also affirmed that innovation create a positive impact of the organization capability. Based on the current situation in Malaysia, it’s established that SME’s has been undergoing challenges that have reduce their capability, sustainability and growth. These issues have created a negative impact of the SME’s and also in the Malaysia economy. Hence, for SME’s to be strengthen and to overcome their problems, there should be a drastic change or modification to be experienced in Malaysia SME’s which will enhance their capability towards innovation performance growth. As such this study investigates the innovation practices amongst the SMEs, in order to enhance their business growth performance in the Malaysian market. Data from a sample of 413 respondents from SMEs in the construction, service and manufacturing sectors was collected by means of a structured questionnaire. The sampling technique/procedure used was the stratified random sampling in other to analyze the hypothesis model. The result of the findings indicated that there is a positive relationship between organization culture and human capital towards innovation performance growth with organizational culture having the strongest coefficient. The findings as well enlighten small and medium sized firms as well as policy makers that innovation is an essential tool in the present day business doings. In conclusion, further studies should examine how small and medium sized firms can make a choice from a range of possibilities for innovation sources before they carry out the real innovation.
Competitive Repertoire Complexity: A Potential Mediator in the Upper Echelons Propositions?
Authors: Mwangi Patriciah G. , Awino Zachary B. , Ogollah Kennedy O. , Pokhariyal Ganesh P.
Published: September 2018

This study sought to evaluate the relationships between top management team (TMT) heterogeneity, competitive repertoire complexity and firm performance. The study was grounded on the upper echelons theory which argues that the TMT characteristics affect the organization’s performance through their influence on strategic choices. This study sought to investigate this relationship using the complete array of strategies deployed by heterogeneous TMTs. The study was conducted through a cross sectional descriptive survey of 53 large food and beverage manufacturers in Kenya. Primary data and secondary data was collected through a structured questionnaire and checklist respectively and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The study established that TMT heterogeneity had a significant negative effect on financial, internal processes and social performance in line with the upper echelons theory. Competitive repertoire complexity was not associated with TMT heterogeneity and did not significantly mediate the relationship between TMT heterogeneity and firm performance as expected from the information processing theory. This study contributed to the strategic management field by providing empirical evidence to the upper echelons and resource based view. Managers would benefit by careful consideration of how their TMTs were designed. Policy makers would also be aware about the competitive actions they adopted and their effect on their organizations performance.
The Effect of a Social-Emotional School-Based Intervention upon Social and Personal Skills in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Gaspar Tania , Cerqueira Ana , Branquinho Cátia , Matos Margarida G.
Published: September 2018

In the middle of the 20th century, there was a shift from a skills deficit approach to a positive approach, focused on promoting assets and individual strengths. The role of social-emotional competences became salient.

School is a privileged arena for universal and selective prevention interventions that can help pupils in raising their competence to cope with life challenges in a relaxed, non-violent and effective way. Personal and social-emotional skills play a key role in children and adolescents’ development, as well as their behavior towards risk factors and there is a need to evidence-based interventions.

The scale “For me it’s Easy” is an evaluation tool for personal and socio-emotional skills and was used to assess the effect of a Social and Emotional Skills Promotion Program. Personal and social skills play a key role in children and adolescents’ development, as well as their behavior towards risk factors.

The study includes an intervention group with 960 Portuguese children and adolescents with a mean age of 12.5 years (SD = 1.61) and included were 56.8% boys of different educational levels. The waiting-list group included 171 children and adolescents; 46.2% were boys. The mean age was 14.7 years and the SD was 3.3.

The results reveal significant differences in the intervention group related to the competences before and after the intervention, namely in the interpersonal relationships and definition of goal related skills, while in the waiting list group there were no significant differences in the moment before and after the intervention, and the scale “For me it’s Easy” can be considered an instrument which contributes to the research and evaluation of intervention in children and adolescents, especially in the prevention and promotion of personal and social skills and healthy development.
SIMULATION FOR INSTABLE FLOATING OF HYDRODYNAMIC GUIDES DURING ACCELERATION AND AT CONSTANT VELOCITY
Authors: ZHANG Yingying , WITTSTOCK Volker , PUTZ Matthias
Published: September 2018

High speeds and the resulting hydrodynamic pressure lead to significant floating of the linear guides. During this movement, the floating behaviour shows phenomena that can be explained by the Reynolds equation. This paper presents a dynamic model of the floating behaviour, which adds tribological approaches to the common Reynolds equation since the floating behaviour does not only depend on the speed, but also on numerous other conditions. This developed simulation method is based on the use of finite difference elements and was implemented using Simulink and Matlab, allowing flexible implementation of further influences such as lubrication cycles and geometry of the sliding surface. After adapting the simulation model and determining the parameters, the calculated floating behaviour corresponds well with the experimental results.
MACHINE VISION DETECTION OF THE CIRCULAR SAW VIBRATIONS
Authors: SANDAK Jakub , ORLOWSKI Kazimierz A.
Published: September 2018

Dynamical properties of rotating circular saw blades are crucial for both production quality and personnel safety. This paper presents a novel method for monitoring circular saw vibrations and deviations. A machine vision system uses a camera and a laser line projected on the saw’s surface to estimate vibration range. Changes of the dynamic behaviour of the saw were measured as a function of the rotational speed. The critical rotational speed of the circular saw blade as well as the optimal rotational speed of the saw were detected.
COMPARISON OF CLASSIFICATION ABILITY INDICES
OF PARAMETERS CHARACTERIZING THE STEREOMETRIC FEATURES OF TECHNICAL SURFACES
Authors: ROZANSKI Rafal
Published: September 2018

The study examined the relationship between the values of two indices evaluating the classification capacity of parameters characterizing the stereometric features of technical surfaces. The values of 83 3D parameters characterizing the stereometric features for 22 surfaces created in various machining processes were taken into account. The examined surfaces differ significantly in the stereometric characteristics of the surface with the similar value of the St parameter. The variance and the geometric mean of ordered parameter values differences were used as the indices of parameters classification ability. In particular, the existence, type and strength of relationship between the adopted indices were evaluated, and the model of the relationship between the indices was determined using the least-squares method. A comparison of the results obtained with those obtained from the analogous evaluation for 8 types of theoretical distributions of parameter values was also carried out.
Objections to Jeremy Simon’s Response to Lucretius’s Symmetry Argument
Authors: Witonsky Abe , Whitman Sarah ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: September 2018

The first century B.C. poet Lucretius put forth an argument for why death is not bad for the person who has died. This argument is commonly referred to as Lucretius’s “symmetry argument” because of its assumption that the period before we were born is symmetrical to the period after we die. Jeremy Simon objects to the symmetry argument, claiming that the two periods are not relevantly symmetrical: being born earlier than we actually are born would not guarantee us more life, whereas extending our lifespan past the time we actually would die would guarantee us more life. Simon believes this difference between the two time periods also explains why it is reasonable for people to wish for a later death but not for an earlier birth. We raise several objections to Simon’s response. Our main objection is that insofar as people do not wish for an earlier birth, it is not because they fear losing more life, but rather is a result of being concerned about losing what is important about life, namely its unique content.
The cultural challenge in mathematical cognition
Authors: Beller Sieghard , Bender Andrea , Chrisomalis Stephen , Jordan Fiona M. , Overmann Karenleigh A. , Saxe Geoffrey B. , Schlimm Dirk
Published: September 2018

In their recent paper on “Challenges in mathematical cognition”, Alcock and colleagues (Alcock et al. [2016]. Challenges in mathematical cognition: A collaboratively-derived research agenda. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 2, 20-41) defined a research agenda through 26 specific research questions. An important dimension of mathematical cognition almost completely absent from their discussion is the cultural constitution of mathematical cognition. Spanning work from a broad range of disciplines – including anthropology, archaeology, cognitive science, history of science, linguistics, philosophy, and psychology – we argue that for any research agenda on mathematical cognition the cultural dimension is indispensable, and we propose a set of exemplary research questions related to it.
Den digitale teksten i det norske morsmålsfaget - Læremiddel og læringsmål
Authors: Skaar Håvard
Published: September 2018

Denne artikkelen tar opp utforskede og uutforskede aspekter ved den digitale teksten som læremiddel i morsmålsfaget i Norge. Det blir konkludert med at forskningen på digital tekst i morsmålsfaget i for stor grad er overstyrt av utdanningspolitikk. Behovet for fremtidig forskning blir utpekt på bakgrunn av den forskningen som allerede foreligger. 19 norske forskningsbidrag på feltet i perioden 2004-2013 blir sammenholdt med innskrivingen av digital tekst i den norske læreplanen av 2006.
ЦРКВЕНОСЛОВЕНСКА ЛЕКСИКАУ ДЈЕЛУ ЛАЗЕ КОСТИЋА
Authors: Милићевић Сања
Published: September 2018

Предмет овог рада је филолошки поглед Лазе Костића и његов утицај напјесничку лексику. Лексеме које се у Костићевом опусу традиционално посма-трају као неологизми упоређују се са облички или семантички исто вјетним при-мјерима потврђеним у црквенословенском рјечнику Франца Миклошича. Услучајевима када постоји само сличност, али не и подударност између Кости-ћевих и црквенословенских лексема, указује се на деривационе процесе којимсе пјесник могао служити како би од мотивационе црквено словенске створионеопходну ријеч савременог српског језика. Посебно се скреће пажња на пје-сников однос према вуковском језику и старијем јези чком насљеђу.
КОМЕНТАР РАДА НА „МОДЕРНИЗАЦИЈИ” НАСТАВНОГ ПРОГРАМА ЗА СРПСКИ ЈЕЗИК ОД 1. РАЗРЕДА ОСНОВНЕ ДО 4. РАЗРЕДА СРЕДЊЕ ШКОЛЕ
Authors: Никитовић Зорица , Мацура Сања , Певуља Душко
Published: September 2018

У фебруару 2014. године, по налогу Републичког педагошког за-вода Републике Српске, формиране су радне групе за „модер-низацију” свих наставних програма, па и програма за предметСрпски језик од 1. разреда основне до 4. разреда средње школе. Раднегрупе су организоване тако да је једна група радила наставне програмеод 1. до 5. разреда основне школе, друга од 6. до 9. разреда основнешколе, а трећа програме предвиђене за средње школе. Као члановирадних група, овом заједничком послу приступили смо свјесни њего-вог примарно националног значаја. Током рада, затражена је консул-тативна помоћ још два универзитетска професора ‒ проф. др МилошаКовачевића (Филолошки факултет Универзитета у Београду) и проф.др Ранка Поповића (Филолошки факултет Универзитета у Бањој Луци),чији се допринос највише огледао у формулисању тзв. исхода учења ињиховом дјелимичном усклађивању са исходима учења у реформиса-ном наставном програму за Српски језик у Србији.
ПРАВОСЛАВНА ДУХОВНОСТ СРПСКЕ КЊИЖЕВНОСТИ
Authors: Шмуља Саша , Марић Андреја
Published: September 2018

Три књиге објављене у протекле двије године сагледавамо каоједну цјелину, имајући на уму да се у сва три случаја ради остудијама које афирмишу специфичан приступ српској књи-жевности, а који подразумијева да је православна духовност била и оста-ла њен органски темељ. Прва у низу јесте књига У огледалу српском.Казивања и огледи о књижевности и традицији Давора Миличевића,књижевног зналца и посвећеника који већ годинама из далеке Канадедаје знатан допринос савременим тумачењима српске књижевно-научнемисли. Ради се о једанаест студија груписаних у три цјелине („О очин-ству и синству”, „Мала преображења” и „О чуварима традиције”), од ко-јих су неке биле публиковане и раније, док су се неке први пут сусрелеса читаоцима.
ЗАДАЦИ КОЈИ ПОДРАЗУМЕВАЈУ ТЗВ. „ВЕРБАЛНО ЗАКЉУЧИВАЊЕ”
Authors: Ломпар Весна
Published: September 2018

У раду се скреће пажња на посебан тип задатака којима се, у оквиру часо-ва српског језика, може вежбати вербално закључивање. Наводе се примериразличитих форми ових задатака, а у исто време се показује да је њима могућепокрити све граматичке области предвиђене програмом – од правописа и ак-центологије, преко фонологије, творбе речи, лексикологије и семантике досинтаксе. Ова тврдња илустрована је великим бројем примера. У раду се пре-длаже да се овај тип задатака постепено уводи у наставу српског језика, а при-мери наведени у раду могли би послужити као модел за састављање сличнихзадатака.
Evaluation of energy balances and greenhouse gas emissions from different agricultural production systems in Minqin Oasis, China
Authors: Yan Zhengang , Li Wei , Yan Tianhai , Chang Shenghua , Hou Fujiang
Published: September 2018

Agricultural production in Minqin Oasis, China, is commonly categorized as intensive crop production (ICP), integrated crop-livestock production (ICLP), intensive livestock production (confined feeding) (IFLP), and extensive livestock production (grazing) (EGLP). The objectives of the present study were to use a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the on farm energy balances and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of agricultural production, and to compare the differences among the four systems. 529 farmers in eight towns of Minqin Oasis were selected to complete a face-to-face questionnaire. AVONA analysis of the average data from 2014 to 2015 indicated that the net energy ratio (Output/Input) for the EGLP system was significantly higher than for each of the other three systems (P < 0.01), whereas the differences among the other systems were not significant. However, the EGLP system generated lower CO2-eq emissions per hectare of farmland than each of the three other systems (P < 0.01). Relating carbon economic efficiency to market values (Chinese currency, ¥) of agricultural products, indicated that the carbon economic efficiency (¥/kg CO2-eq/farm) of the IFLP system was significantly greater than that of the three other systems (P < 0.01). The net energy ratios of alfalfa (4.01) and maize (2.63) were significantly higher than the corresponding data of the other crops (P < 0.01). All of the emission sources data for ICP, ICLP, IFLP, and EGLP, when related to the contribution of GHG emissions, showed fertilizer, enteric methane emissions, and plastic mulch, contributed the highest proportions of GHG emissions of all production categories. The path models showed that class of livestock was strongly linked to economic income. The direct effects and total effects of water use efficiency, via their positive influence on energy balances and GHG emissions were much stronger than those of other dependent variables. In conclusion, the present study provides benchmark information on the factors for energy balances and GHG emissions for agricultural production systems in northwestern China.
Differences in the use of surface water resources by desert birds is revealed using isotopic tracers
Authors: Smit Ben , Woodborne Stephan , Wolf Blair O , McKechnie Andrew E
Published: September 2018

The scarcity of free-standing water sources is a key determinant of animal and plant community structure in arid environments, and an understanding of the extent to which particular species use surface water is vital for modelling the effects of climate change on desert avifauna. We investigated interspecific variation in the use of artificial water sources among birds in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa, by 1) observations at waterholes and 2) tracing spatial water-use patterns during summer by isotopically-labelled water sources and blood sampling. More than 50% of the avian community (primarily insectivores and omnivores) were not observed to drink. The majority (53%) of species drinking at waterholes were granivorous, and their use of surface water was best predicted by their relative abundance in the community. Species representing the remaining dietary guilds drank significantly more on hot days. Blood samples revealed that only 11 of 42 species (mostly granivores and a few omnivores) showed evidence of drinking at a waterhole with enriched deuterium values; on average, in the latter birds, water from the enriched waterhole accounted for ~38% of their body water pool. These findings illustrate that two methods employed in this study provide different, but complementary data on the relative importance of a water source for an avian community. Although our results suggest that most avian species are independent of surface water, drinking patterns on the hottest days during our study period suggest that free-standing water might become more important for some of the non-drinking species under hotter climatic conditions.
Triple band Compact Fractal Antenna with Defected Ground Plane for Bluetooth, WiMAX, and WLAN Applications
Authors: Harbadji M. , Boufrioua A. , Denidni T. A.
Published: September 2018

This paper presents a novel compact coplanar waveguide (CPW) monopole fractal-shaped antenna using fractal patch composed of hexagons with defected ground plane. Inclusion of a pair of S-shaped slots on the ground plane is used to  extend the antenna impedance bandwidth and to provide multiband operation. The antenna has a compact size of 35×35×1.27 mm3 which is compact. The antenna is designed, fabricated and measured. Good performances in terms of return loss, gain and radiation pattern are obtained in the  operating bands, which makes the proposed antenna a good  candidate for multiband wireless systems. The obtained results show that the antenna operates at Bluetooth,Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).
Flower-mediated plant-butterfly interactions in an heterogeneous tropical coastal ecosystem
Authors: Martínez-Adriano Cristian A. , Díaz-Castelazo Cecilia , Aguirre-Jaimes Armando
Published: September 2018

Background

Interspecific interactions play an important role in determining species richness and persistence in a given locality. However at some sites, the studies, especially for interaction networks on adult butterflies are scarce. The present study aimed the following objectives: (1) determine butterfly species richness and diversity that visit flowering plants, (2) compare species richness and diversity in butterfly-plant interactions among six different vegetation types and (3) analyze the structure of butterfly-flowering plant interaction networks mediated by flowers.

Methods

The study was developed in six vegetation types within the natural reserve of La Mancha, located in Veracruz, Mexico. In each vegetation type, we recorded the frequency of flower visits by butterflies monthly in round plots (of radius 5 m) for 12 months. We calculated Shannon diversity for butterfly species and diversity of interactions per vegetation type. We determined the classic Jaccard similarity index among vegetation types and estimated parameters at network and species-level.

Results

We found 123 species of butterflies belonging to 11 families and 87 genera. The highest number of species belonged to Hesperiidae (46 species), followed by Nymphalidae (28) and Pieridae (14). The highest butterfly diversity and interaction diversity was observed in pioneer dune vegetation (PDV), coastal dune scrub (CDS) and tropical deciduous flooding forest and wetland (TDF-W). The same order of vegetation types was found for interaction diversity. Highest species similarity was found between PDV-CDS and PDV-TDF. The butterfly-plant interaction network showed a nested structure with one module. The speciesAscia monuste,Euptoieta hegesiaandLeptotes cassiuswere the most generalist in the network, whileHorama oedippus,E. hegesia,andL. cassiuswere the species with highest dependencies per plant species.

Discussion

Our study is important because it constitutes a pioneer study of butterfly-plant interactions in this protected area, at least for adult butterflies; it shows the diversity of interactions among flowering plants and butterflies. Our research constitutes the first approach (at a community level) to explore the functional role of pollination services that butterflies provide to plant communities. We highlighted that open areas show a higher diversity and these areas shared a higher number of species that shaded sites. In the interaction networks parameters, our results highlighted the higher dependence of butterflies by the flowers on which they feed than vice versa. In conclusion, the plant species (as a feeding resource) seem to limit the presence of butterfly species. Thus, this protected area is highly relevant for Lepidoptera diversity and the interaction between these insects and flowering plants. We suggest that studying plant and butterfly diversity in tropical habitats will provide insight into their interspecific interactions and community structure.
Primary molt in Gruiforms and simpler molt summary tables
Authors: Rohwer Sievert , Rohwer Vanya G.
Published: September 2018

Molt summary tables reveal the sequence and mode of flight-feather replacement and how these feathers are divided into independent replacement series. Tables for summarizing molt are relatively new, and the rules for generating them were first formally illustrated using data from a temperate passerine. However, this first illustration failed to address (i) species with primaries divided into more than one replacement series, (ii) species with stepwise primary replacement, which almost always involves incomplete annual replacement of the primaries, and (iii) species with incomplete annual replacement within molt series characterized by single-wave replacement. Here, we review complications that arise in developing molt summary tables for such cases and we offer solutions that remove ambiguity about the direction that molt proceeds within a replacement series and about the recognition of nodal and terminal feathers that mark the beginning and end of molt series. We use these modified molt summary tables to describe the sequence of primary replacement in four groups of Gruiform birds, a group for which primary replacement has been reported to proceed from the outermost primary toward the body, unlike most other birds. Eighty molting Grey-winged Trumpeters,Psophia crepitans,and 124 molting Limpkins,Aramus guarauna, show the sequence of primary replacement is proximal in both groups; furthermore, the primaries of trumpeters are divided into two replacement series, one beginning at the outermost primary P10, and the other beginning at P3. To further evaluate the extent of this highly unusual direction of replacement in Gruiforms, we cast the data (Stresemann & Stresemann, 1966) on primary replacement in upland rails (Rallidae) and flufftails (Sarothruridae) into molt summary tables; both also replace their primaries proximally, from outermost to innermost, suggesting that this mode of primary replacement may be characteristic of Gruiformes.
НЕОБХОДИМОСТЬ И ПУТИ ГАРМОНИЗАЦИИ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИХ ОТНОШЕНИЙ В РОССИИ, "Общество и экономика"
Authors: Власов Федор
Published: September 2018

Исследуется противоречивость российской социально-экономической модели. Рассмотрены сформировавшиеся в ее рамках диспропорции, основной из которых признается глубокое неравенство. Доказывается, что сегодня неравенство является главным препятствием для ускорения темпов роста экономики, ее диверсификации и технологической модернизации. Дано авторское определение гармонизации как средства преодоления накопленных диспропорций. Предлагаются пути ее реализации.
Clinical features and progression of Parkinson's disease with LRRK2 variants: A prospective study
Authors: Song Tingwei , Zhou Xiaoxia , Wang Chunyu , Wu Heng , Yan Xinxiang , Guo Jifeng , Tang Beisha , Lei Lifang , Xu Qian ,   Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Multicenter Database and Collaborative Network in China (PD‐MDCNC)
Published: November 2024

Objective

We established a prospective cohort study to investigate the differences in motor and non‐motor symptoms between idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) and Parkinson's disease in carriers of leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene risk variants (LRRK2‐PD).

Methods

The study included 1407 individuals with IPD and 649 individuals with LRRK2‐PD (comprising 304 with LRRK2‐G2385R, 220 with LRRK2‐R1628P, and 105 with LRRK2‐A419V). Differences in symptoms between LRRK2‐PD and IPD were analyzed using LCMM modeling and Cox regression analysis.

Results

The LRRK2‐G2385R variant showed slower progression in tremor symptoms and excessive daytime sleepiness compared with IPD. In contrast, symptoms associated with LRRK2‐R1628P and LRRK2‐A419V were more similar to those of IPD. Survival analysis revealed that LRRK2‐PD does not affect life expectancy compared with IPD.

Interpretation

Our extended longitudinal follow‐up of LRRK2‐PD in the Chinese population provided valuable insights, further confirming the clinical characteristics of the three LRRK2 variants.
Design of Bimetallic Boronene Structures Leveraging Neighboring Effects for Efficient Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction Reaction
Authors: Jia Jun , Zhang Zhaofu , Wang Anyang , Liu Yonghui , Liu Zheng , Wang Jun , Guo Yuzheng , Peng Li , Li Jun , Robertson John
Published: November 2024

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (CO2RR) offers a promising avenue to address rising atmospheric CO2 levels by producing high‐value chemicals. However, the development of efficient, long‐lasting catalysts remains challenging. In this study, particle swarm optimization is employed to design a novel bimetallic boronene structure, thereby enhancing CO2RR activity through precise tuning of the metal‐substrate microenvironment. Through high‐throughput screening, seven CuMB4 (M = V, Zn, Nb, Ag, Cd, Ta, Au) monolayers are identified as promising CO2RR catalysts based on stability, conductivity, catalytic activity, and selectivity. These materials, characterized by hyper‐coordination and neighboring bimetallic effects, are proposed for synthesis via self‐assembled surface growth. Notably, CuZnB4 exhibited exceptional theoretical catalytic activity, characterized by remarkably low limiting potentials (UL) of −0.16 V for CH4 and −0.27 V for C2H4, as well as low kinetic barriers of 0.65 and 0.53 eV, respectively. The enhanced activity results from neighboring effects optimizing densely populated boron active sites and the ability to suppress hydrogen evolution reactions. Additionally, this study explored intrinsic properties influencing catalytic activity using volcano plots, descriptor analysis, and electron density evaluation. Unlike traditional catalysts prone to oxidation, CuMB4 varieties possess self‐activating properties, facilitating the conversion of *O/*OH to H2O and enhancing CO2 conversion. This research introduces robust CO2RR catalysts and provides insights into manipulating neighboring effects, thus guiding future catalyst design.
Acoustic Fingerprinting and Nanoslip Dynamics of Biofilms
Authors: Jana Saikat , Bhalla Nikhil
Published: November 2024

It is reported that bacteria can generate nanomotion, but understanding the complex dynamics of bacterial colony gliding on solid interfaces has remained unresolved. Here, this work captures the real‐time development and gliding of bacterial biofilms on vibrating solids made of piezoelectric quartz. The gliding, characterized by liquid slips, is measured in form of frequency and dissipation changes of the vibrating solid. These vibrations enable the generation of distinct acoustic fingerprints (sound/ music) of the three phases of biofilm development: viscoelastic strengthening, biofilm growth and biofilm stability. In adition, the effect of extracellular matrix secretion on the rigidity of the film and its nanoslip in each of the distinct biofilm developmental phases is quantified. This work provides a real‐time, label‐free method of quantifying bacteria biofilm dynamics and paves the way for developing libraries of acoustic signatures of bacteria and their metabolic products.
Surface Nanopatterning and Structural Coloration of Liquid Metal Gallium Through Hypergravity Nanoimprinting
Authors: Nie Xiuyu , Xiong Mingzhang , Zeng Jing , Li Chenggang , Chen Yue , Xu Zushun , Fan Wen
Published: November 2024

Nanoscale structuring of gallium‐based liquid metals has emerged as a promising approach for generating unique properties and functionalities in advanced materials and devices. However, their exceptionally high surface tension presents significant challenges for achieving surface nanostructuring using conventional fabrication techniques. Here, a hypergravity nanoimprinting method is introduced, which harnesses horizontal centrifugation to generate hypergravity fields that drive liquid gallium into nanoscale cavities on an elastic polymer stamp surface at subzero temperatures, where it solidifies and preserves imprinted features down to 100 nm lateral resolution. This surpasses previous limits of gallium patterning, enabling phenomena such as iridescent structural colors with a wide range of hues and high saturation. Numerical simulations reveal the intricate fluid dynamic behaviors and interfacial interactions during the imprinting process, providing valuable insights for process optimization and control. By synergistically combining advanced soft lithography techniques with the reversible solid‐liquid phase transition properties of liquid metals, hypergravity nanoimprinting offers a practical nanofabrication approach, facilitating the development of next‐generation nanoscale gallium devices with finely structured nanofeatures across diverse application domains, such as nanoelectronics and photonic metamaterials.
Programmable Nanomodulators for Precision Therapy, Engineering Tumor Metabolism to Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy
Authors: Liu Siwei , Liu Zhijun , Lei Huajiang , Miao Yang‐Bao , Chen Jiao
Published: November 2024

Tumor metabolism is crucial in the continuous advancement and complex growth of cancer. The emerging field of nanotechnology has made significant strides in enhancing the understanding of the complex metabolic intricacies inherent to tumors, offering potential avenues for their strategic manipulation to achieve therapeutic goals. This comprehensive review delves into the interplay between tumor metabolism and various facets of cancer, encompassing its origins, progression, and the formidable challenges posed by metastasis. Simultaneously, it underscores the classification of programmable nanomodulators and their transformative impact on enhancing cancer treatment, particularly when integrated with modalities such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. This review also encapsulates the mechanisms by which nanomodulators modulate tumor metabolism, including the delivery of metabolic inhibitors, regulation of oxidative stress, pH value modulation, nanoenzyme catalysis, nutrient deprivation, and RNA interference technology, among others. Additionally, the review delves into the prospects and challenges of nanomodulators in clinical applications. Finally, the innovative concept of using nanomodulators to reprogram metabolic pathways is introduced, aiming to transform cancer cells back into normal cells. This review underscores the profound impact that tailored nanomodulators can have on tumor metabolic, charting a path toward pioneering precision therapies for cancer.
Visible‐Light‐Induced Rapid Elimination of Antibiotic Resistance Contaminations Using Graphitic Carbon Nitride Tailored with Carrier Confinement Domains
Authors: Yang Hao , He Dongyang , Fan Linyi , Cheng Fangyuan , Zhou Xixiu , Zhou Tong , Liu Chuanhao , Wang Chengzhi , Zhang Ya‐nan , Qu Jiao
Published: November 2024

Solar water disinfection facilitated by photocatalyst has been considered a viable point‐of‐use (POU) method for mitigating antibiotic resistance contaminations at the household or community levels. Here, density functional theory calculations are used to guide the fabrication of a carrier confinement domains (CCD)‐decorated graphitic carbon nitride (CN) photocatalyst. The CCD integration effectively disrupts the electron distribution symmetry of CN, amplifies its local electron density, and facilitates the formation of a long‐range ordered structure, thereby enhancing charge separation efficiency. Importantly, the CCD directs the migration of photogenerated carriers to specific regions upon light illumination, effectively minimizing their spatial proximity. As a result, the overall reactive oxygen species level of the photocatalytic system is markedly elevated, with a twelvefold increase in H2O2 concentration, alongside a significant rise in •O2− and •OH steady‐state concentrations. Remarkably, a record‐high disinfection efficiency is attained, successfully inactivating 7 log of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria within 30 min. Additionally, the photocatalyst can be integrated into a continuous‐flow fixed‐bed reactor, facilitating clean water production for up to 60 h at a rate of 121 L m−2 day−1, highlighting its significant potential for POU applications.
Strong Anisotropy and Giant Photothermoelectricity of 1D Alloy Nb3Se12I‐Based Photodetector for Ultrabroadband Light‐Detection and Encryption Imaging Application
Authors: Zhang Jianbin , Hu Zhen , Yang Qingyu , Sun Shanwei , Liu Fei , Xu Hua , Wang Xiao , Zhao Yi , Zhou Nan , Dong Guangzhi , Zhang Hu , Yang Rusen , Wang Lin , Hu Weida , Li Xiaobo
Published: November 2024

Securing high‐capacity and safe communication holds great potential for ushering in the new era of digital society. In this study, a wide‐band photodetector based on the quasi‐1D niobium selenide compounds (Nb3Se12I), showing up photothermoelectric (PTE) dominated multiple synergistic effects with high responsivity across a wide wavelength range from deep‐ultraviolet (254 nm) to terahertz (0.30 THz), providing an efficient strategy for high‐capacity optical processing is introduced. Combined with the polarized‐sensitive property of the Nb3Se12I photodetector, an encrypted imaging technology using polarization‐resolved PTE current is developed. This technology is capable of transforming encrypted messages into polarization states, which can be restored through a specially designed decryption algorithm, greatly enhancing the concealment and security of the information transmission process. Overall, the Nb3Se12I‐based detector manifests in terms of high responsivity (283.2 A W−1 to 520 nm, 1632.4 A W−1 to 980 nm, and 1868.1 A W−1 for short‐wave infrared light of 2200 nm), suitable response speed of 43 µs for 0.30 THz wave and polarization anisotropy ratio of 1.83. The versatile abilities of photodetector in the realm of ultrabroadband polarized detection and encryption imaging may advance the use of anisotropic thermoelectric materials in high‐capacity and secure information communication applications.
Redox‐Bipolar Covalent Organic Framework Cathode for Advanced Sodium‐Organic Batteries
Authors: Cheng Linqi , Yan Xiaoli , Yu Jie , Zhang Xupeng , Wang Heng‐Guo , Cui Fengchao , Wang Yinghui
Published: November 2024

Redox‐active covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are promising candidates for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, the construction of redox‐bipolar COFs with the anions and cations co‐storage feature for SIBs is rarely reported. Herein, redox‐bipolar COF constructed from aniline‐fused quinonoid units (TPAD‐COF) is developed as the cathode material in SIBs for the first time. The unique integration of conductive aniline skeletons and quinone redox centers endows TPAD‐COF with high ionic/electrical conductivity, abundant redox‐active sites, and fascinating bipolar features. Consequently, the elaborately tailored TPAD‐COF cathode exhibits higher specific capacity (186.4 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1) and superior cycling performance (over 2000 cycles at 1.0 A g−1 with 0.015% decay rate per cycle). Impressively, TPAD‐COF also displays a high specific capacity of 101 mAh g−1 even at −20 °C. As a proof of concept, all‐organic SIBs (AOSIBs) are assembled using TPAD‐COF cathode and disodium terephthalate anode, which also show impressive electrochemical properties, indicating the potential application of TPAD‐COF cathode in AOSIBs. The work will pave the avenue toward advanced COFs cathode for rechargeable batteries through rational molecular design.
Engineered Biomimetic Cancer Cell Membrane Nanosystems Trigger Gas‐Immunometabolic Therapy for Spinal‐Metastasized Tumors
Authors: Lu Hongwei , Liang Bing , Hu Annan , Zhou Hao , Jia Chao , Aji Abudula , Chen Qing , Ma Yiqun , Cui Wenguo , Jiang Libo , Dong Jian
Published: November 2024

Despite great progress in enhancing tumor immunogenicity, conventional gas therapy cannot effectively reverse the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment (TIME), limiting immunotherapy. The development of therapeutic gases that are tumor microenvironment responsive and efficiently reverse the TIME for precisely targeted tumor gas‐immunometabolic therapy remains a great challenge. In this study, a novel cancer cell membrane‐encapsulated pH‐responsive nitric oxide (NO)‐releasing biomimetic nanosystem (MP@AL) is prepared. Lactate oxidase (Lox) in MP@AL consumed oxygen to promote the decomposition of lactate, a metabolic by‐product of tumor glycolysis, and the generation of H2O2, while L‐arginine (L‐Arg) in MP@AL is oxidized by H2O2 to generate nitric oxide (NO). For one thing, NO led to mitochondrial dysfunction in tumor cells to reduce oxygen consumption and promote the efficiency of Lox in lactate decomposition, thus reversing lactate‐induced TIME; for another, NO effectively triggered immunogenic cell death, activated anti‐tumor immune response and long‐term immune memory, and ensured a favorable effect in the synergistic interaction with PD‐L1 antibody for inhibiting tumor growth and recurrence. Therefore, a novel gas‐immunometabolic therapy dual closed‐loop nanosystem for enhancing tumor immunogenicity and remodeling lactate‐induced TIME is established. Overall, this work will provide new ideas for gas therapy to effectively remodel the TIME to enhance cancer immunotherapy.
Entropic Design of Anionic Site to Improve Anionic Redox Stability in Lithium‐Rich Cathode
Authors: Zheng Chaoliang , Zhang Juan , Mao Huican , Wang Yaqing , Yang Xiaoxu , Li Jie , Zhang Di , Feng Ting , Wang Xindong , Kang Feiyu , Li Jianling
Published: November 2024

Cobalt‐free manganese‐rich layered oxide is considered one of the most promising cathode materials for next‐generation lithium‐ion batteries due to its high capacity and low cost. However, irreversible anionic redox (OAR) leads to serious failure problems and hinders its wide application. To solve the above problems, the entropy design strategy of anionic sites is proposed, which is more direct and relevant to the regulation of the OAR process compared to the traditional entropy design of TM sites. The entropic design improves the structural diversity and long‐range disorder of the material, which effectively inhibits oxygen release and drastic structural strain, and alleviates structural degradation. After 400 cycles at 1C, the capacity and voltage decay per cycle are only 0.092 mAh g−1 and 1.36 mV, respectively. The long cycle test (10C and 1000 cycles) at high current shows that the voltage and capacity decay are only 0.04 mAh g−1 and 0.66 mV per cycle, respectively. Meanwhile, the rate performance at 10C reaches 175 mAh g−1. The charge compensation regulation and performance enhancement mechanism are investigated by systematic in‐situ/ex‐situ characterization and theoretical calculation. This research provides new ideas for the design of lithium‐rich cathodes with stable OAR and high structural adaptability.
Neuro‐Actuating Photonic Skin Enabled by Ion‐Gel Transistor with Thermo‐Adaptive Block Copolymer
Authors: Kim Gwanho , Lee Seokyeong , Yoon Jungwon , Lee Kyuho , Kim Woojoong , Kim Jiwon , Jang Jihye , Ha Jebong , Kim Taebin , Zhao Kaiying , Kim HoYeon , Lee Seonju , Oh Ji Hye , Kim Junsu , Hassan Tufail , Cho Soo Yeong , Ryu Du Yeol , Koo Chong Min , Park Chanho , Park Cheolmin
Published: November 2024

Despite significant progress in developing artificial synapses to emulate the human nervous system for bio‐signal transmission, synapses with thermo‐adaptive coloration and soft actuators driven by temperature change have seldom been reported. Herein, a photonic neuro‐actuating synaptic skin is presented enabling thermoresponsive synaptic signal transmission, color variation, and actuation. First, a thermoresponsive display synapse is developed based on a 3‐terminal ion‐gel transistor with a poly (3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) semiconducting channel mixed with 2D titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene and a thermo‐adaptive 1D block copolymer (BCP) photonic crystal (PC) gate insulator. Temperature‐dependent synaptic behavior is successfully observed in the ion‐gel transistor with the corresponding structural colors, leading to a thermo‐adaptive display synapse. The 3 × 3 arrays of thermo‐adaptive display synapses with Joule heaters show that each pixel is controlled by the thermoresponsive structural color and synaptic output. The synaptic output current from the MXene ion‐gel transistor can be converted and amplified to a voltage signal, which powers a soft actuator connected to the ion‐gel display synapse and triggers temperature‐dependent actuation related to the thermoresponsive synaptic performance. This study showcases a thermo‐adaptive photonic neuro‐actuating artificial skin that emulates muscle‐combined neuronal human skin with visualization capability.
Silicon‐Based Optical Switch with Ge2Sb2Te5‐Enabled Phase‐Shifting Region
Authors: Chen Xiaojun , Lin Jiao , Wang Ke
Published: November 2024

With the rapid development of communication networks and computing, optical switches as an important elementary unit are highly needed. In this article, a silicon‐based optical switch with (GST)‐enabled phase‐shifting region is proposed. This optical switch is based on contra‐directional couplers composed of two phase‐shifted Bragg gratings. To minimize the impact of GST absorption loss, GST is only used in the phase‐shifting area, and the switching function is achieved by changing the state of GST. In the results, it is shown that the proposed device has a 3 dB operation bandwidth of about 163.2 GHz (1.394 nm) and an extinction ratio of about 19.06 dB for the drop port and about 20.25 dB for the through port. The loss at the central operational wavelength is about 1.3 and 1.04 dB for the through port and the drop port, respectively, and the largest loss over the entire operation bandwidth for these two ports is 1.66 and 2.35 dB. Furthermore, the optical switch is shown to be bidirectional, achieving similar performance when light propagates in the opposite direction. Compared with previous works, the proposed optical switch realizes wider operation bandwidth, higher extinction ratio, and lower loss.