bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent advances in lignins: fundamentals and applications
Authors: Evstigneyev E. I. , Zakusilo D. N. , Ryabukhin D. S. , Vasilyev A. V.
Published: July 2023

Lignin, one of the most abundant biopolymers on Earth, is a constant object of numerous fundamental and applied studies. Lignin processing is a challenging task of biorefining. Recent publications mainly concern various directions of valorization of technical lignins, as well as applications of lignin in medicine and pharmacology, 3D printing, synthesis of carbon fibres and biofuels. In the field of fundamental research, studies on lignin biosynthesis are of special attention. The review is devoted to the latest advances in the chemistry of lignin. The currently available data on the structure and biosynthesis of lignin are discussed. The trends in lignin valorization, such as pyrolysis and carbonation, production of composites, copolymers and nanoparticles, synthesis of practically valuable low-molecular-weight substances, production of hydro- and aerogels, etc., are analyzed in detail. It is noted that at present, the practical application of lignin is developing in two directions: valorization of technical lignins per se, without prior depolymerization, and valorization via low molecular weight compounds, mainly monomers, formed through lignin degradation by various methods.
 The bibliography includes 130 references.
Enhanced artificial transgender longicorn algorithm & recurrent neural network based enhanced DC-DC converter for torque ripple minimization of BLDC motor
Authors: P. Rajesh  , Francis H Shajin  , V. Ansal  , Vijay Kumar B
Published: July 2023

This paper proposes an enhanced DC-DC converter with hybrid control method for torque ripple minimization of BLDC motor. Initially, a BLDC motor is controlled with an enhanced Cuk converter. The application of a switched inductor is used to update the Cuk converter operation. In this method, the control mechanism incorporates two control loops, namely, the speed control loop and torque control loop, which are utilized to recover the execution of BLDC. Thus, the proposed system is the combined performance of the Enhanced Artificial Transgender Longicorn Algorithm (EATLA) and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) to improve control loop operations. In the Artificial Transgender Longicorn Algorithm (ATLA), the crossover and mutation approach are used as part of the scattering process to build the accuracy search process. In this article, the EATLA-RNN algorithm for limiting speed and torque error of BLDC motor is explored. However, the proposed method output is subject to input of the speed and torque controllers. The proposed topology with the controller is executed on MATLAB/Simulink workstation, and torque ripple minimization is analyzed toother existing approaches such as particle swarm optimization (PSO) and bacterial foraging (BF) algorithm.
Predicting Parkinson's Disease Severity using Telemonitoring Data and Machine Learning Models: A Principal Component Analysis-based Approach for Remote Healthcare Services during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Pechprasarn Suejit , Manavibool Lalita , Supmool Nanticha , Vechpanich Naravin , Meepadung Phattranij
Published: July 2023

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive and chronic neurological condition that affects about 1% of the world's over-60 population. The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the significance of remote healthcare services, such as telemedicine, in managing chronic diseases such as PD. This research intends to construct machine learning (ML) models to predict PD severity utilizing vocal data derived from the UCI database for motor and total Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) ratings. ML was used to study the association between voice vibration and PD, and PCA and ML models were utilized to minimize model complexity and compare the predictive performance of various statistical models for PD regression. The dataset included 5,875 medical voice records from 42 patients with early-stage PD who participated in a six-month clinical trial. The proposed PCA model simplified the model and achieved a root-mean-square error of 1.78 with an R-squared value of 0.95 for predicting the motor UPDRS and 1.78 with an R-squared value of 0.97 for predicting the total UPDRS. This work can give a framework for developing remote healthcare services for Parkinson's disease and other chronic conditions, which can be helpful during pandemics and other situations where access to in-person care is limited.
« Je ne veux pas amener le stigmate de cette épidémie sur moi et sur ma famille ! »
Authors: Labbé Fabienne
Published: July 2023

Bien que la pandémie de VIH ait perdu en attention médiatique depuis une décennie, elle n’en continue pas moins de faire des ravages à travers le monde. Dans cet article, je me penche sur le VIH dans un endroit où on ne l’attend pas : les îles Fidji. J’analyse une dimension fondamentale du vécu du VIH : la stigmatisation. J’examine les formes prises par la stigmatisation associée à l’infection, l’univers moral dans lequel elle prend forme et les logiques sociales et culturelles dont elle procède dans la société fidjienne. J’analyse également la façon dont les personnes atteintes du VIH font l’expérience de cette stigmatisation, notamment le sentiment de honte (māduā) qui lui est associé. J’aborde finalement les stratégies mises en oeuvre par les personnes vivant avec le VIH pour composer avec la stigmatisation et avec la honte, entre autres garder leur condition secrète, tenter de redorer leur image aux yeux des autres en se convertissant au christianisme évangélique, charismatique ou pentecôtiste et devenir un militant pour la cause. En m’inspirant de l’approche théorique d’Arthur Kleinman, j’aborde la stigmatisation associée au VIH aux îles Fidji comme une expérience fondamentalement morale, intersubjective et émotionnelle.
Les acteur.trices de la justice : les légistes
Authors: Boucher Éliane
Published: July 2023

Ce texte fait suite à la présentation de l’autrice lors du cycle de conférences « Les soirées de la justice : Les acteurs de justice face aux changements et à l’innovation ». Les légistes sont des acteur.trices de justice, dont la responsabilité est de traduire une orientation politique en langage normatif. Pour ce faire, iels peuvent bénéficier de l’appui de spécialistes comme les jurilinguistes et les réviseur×es légistiques. La pratique de la légistique a dû par le passé évoluer et s’adapter pour faire une plus grande place à une rédaction plus « juste », notamment sur le plan du respect des langues officielles et du bilinguisme. Les légistes doivent aujourd’hui prendre acte de la complexité des textes normatifs, et chercher à diminuer la complexité apportée à ces textes par la manière dont ils sont rédigés. En français, cela signifie notamment porter une attention particulière à la syntaxe et à l’expression abstraite, comme le montrent certains exemples tirés de la Loi sur la protection du consommateur et du Code civil du Québec.
Sur la modernisation des pays non européens
Authors: Onjo Akio
Published: July 2023

Paul Vidal de la Blache (1845-1918) a toujours eu un grand intérêt pour la « modernisation » du monde. Il était fasciné par la grande influence des réseaux de chemins de fer sur l’organisation spatiale, la structure sociale, le mode de gouvernement et la mentalité des peuples. Il tentait d’expliquer les interrelations ou combinaisons complexes entre « les structures traditionnelles et fixes » et « les contacts et circulations modernes ». Cet article constitue une réflexion sur le rôle qu’ont joué les études de Vidal à propos de la modernisation de pays asiatiques, dans la formation et l’approfondissement de ses propres conceptions géographiques. Quelle perspective le géographe a-t-il dégagé de l’expérience de la modernisation dans une région non européenne ? En étudiant ses recherches sur l’Asie, on peut reconsidérer non seulement le développement de sa conception de la géographie humaine moderne, mais aussi sa vision de la formation du monde moderne.
Canonisation et décanonisation en histoire de la géographie au Brésil
Authors: Ribeiro Guilherme
Published: July 2023

À partir d’un questionnement sur le rôle des traductions dans un pays périphérique et de l’étude de revues telles que le Boletim Geográfico et GEOgraphia, nous constatons que les traductions sont devenues une pratique régulière (encore qu’inconsciente) chez les géographes brésiliens dès la fondation des premiers cours universitaires dans les années 1930, et ce, jusqu’à nos jours. Notre étude porte sur les traductions en langue portugaise des écrits du géographe français Paul Vidal de la Blache qui ont circulé au Brésil entre 1943 et 2020. D’une part, sur le plan méthodologique, les translations studies s’avèrent utiles pour montrer comment les traductions peuvent enrichir notre compréhension des sciences humaines. D’autre part, en revoyant comment Vidal de la Blache et les classiques en géographie ont été considérés par l’historiographie de la géographie, nous en arrivons à la conclusion que les traductions ont joué un rôle fondamental dans les processus de « canonisation » (1943-1999) et de « décanonisation » (1999-2020) de Vidal de la Blache, au Brésil.
Critique, Estrangement and Speculative Envisioning: Pedagogical Thinking and Otherwise Educational Worlds
Authors: Delgado Vintimilla Cristina
Published: July 2023

In this paper I draw on my work as a pedagogista to discuss the pedagogical promise of critique, estrangement, and what I call speculative envisioning. I argue that these concepts are themselves modes of engagement, practice, and thinking that are pedagogical and that they can help educators engage with the nondeterministic work of creating conditions for otherwise educational worlds. To do so I reassert critique’s promise by tracing the ways Michel Foucault and Judith Butler ask us to engage with it and consider what it might offer to education and, more specifically, to early childhood education. I then introduce estrangement as a pedagogical disposition towards otherwise educational worlds and as a means by which to consider speculative envisioning. I propose speculative envisioning as a mode of pedagogical thought that works as a necessary supplement to the renewal value of critique and how this constitutes a pedagogical and ethical move toward otherwise educational worlds.
The Hazards of Role Modelling for the Education of Moral and/or Virtuous Character
Authors: Carr David
Published: July 2023

In contrast to both behaviourist and cognitive approaches to moral development, neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics has had recent fairly distinctive impact on thought about the practice of moral education. On this view, insofar as moral development is a matter of the cultivation of moral virtues, and virtues are basically qualities of character conducive to good or admirable conduct, virtue formation is reducible neither to behaviour training nor to (mere) intellectual acquaintance with knowledge or principles, and requires essentially practical initiation into the distinctive (Aristotelian) moral wisdom of phronesis. In turn, such focus on the cultivation of practical wisdom has led to large emphasis on the contribution of moral exemplars and role modelling for the moral education of (particularly) young people. This paper argues that such emphasis is seriously overstated, if not wholly misplaced, and that role modelling and exemplification can have only a secondary place at best in any reputable moral educational project or program.
Vulnérabilité non-structurelle et résilience territoriale en situation de multi-risque. Perception et préférences cartographiques des aléas effondrement et inondation (val d’Orléans, Loiret, France)
Authors: Serrhini Kamal , Moy Yolaine , Noury Gildas , Serrano José , Soltanpour Hedieh
Published: July 2023

En tant qu’élément central de la politique nationale de gestion des risques naturels, le Plan de Prévention du Risque inondation (PPRi) est fondé sur une logique du mono-aléa. Le val d’Orléans (VdO) est concerné par l’interaction entre deux aléas naturels majeurs, les inondations et les effondrements karstiques. L’existence du PPRi impose aux collectivités territoriales concernées (mairies) de développer un Document d’Information Communal sur les RIsques Majeurs (DICRIM). Une rapide analyse de ces dispositifs de communication montre clairement une insuffisance des politiques de prévention des effondrements de cavités karstiques limitant le développement d’une culture du risque ce qui peut aggraver les dommages potentiels et mettre en danger des vies humaines. A l’aide d’une enquête par questionnaire, cette contribution s’intéresse à l’évaluation de la perception du risque karstique par les communes (mairies) et les acteurs majeurs du VdO (Préfecture, DDT, DREAL). Cette publication focalise sur les mesures préventives non-structurelles en termes de communication institutionnelle en situation de multirisque à destination des acteurs locaux dans la perspective d’une meilleure résilience des territoires.
Patrimonio y enseñanza de la historia: análisis de las imágenes de los libros de texto de Educación Primaria
Authors: Luna Ursula , Gillate Iratxe , Castrillo Janire , Ibáñez-Etxeberria Alex
Published: July 2023

Este estudio analiza el tratamiento que se brinda al patrimonio en las imágenes de las unidades didácticas dirigidas a enseñar y aprender historia, tomando como muestra los libros de toda la etapa de Educación Primaria de dos grandes editoriales del País Vasco. Se utiliza una ficha de categorización ad hoc formada por 8 variables. Los resultados indican la presencia mayoritaria de bienes materiales de tipología histórico-artística, que son colectivamente reconocidos y que usualmente no se nominalizan, predominando entre ellos los relativos a la época contemporánea. También indican que con frecuencia los manuales no invitan a trabajar de manera directa los elementos patrimoniales que aparecen en las imágenes, ni establecen nexos con los conocimientos previos del alumnado. De ahí surgen algunas claves que se plantean para mejorar el modo en el que actualmente los libros escolares introducen el patrimonio.
Evidence for a role of human blood-borne factors in mediating age-associated changes in molecular circadian rhythms
Authors: Schwarz Jessica E. , Mrčela Antonijo , Lahens Nicholas F. , Li Yongjun , Hsu Cynthia T. , Grant Gregory , Skarke Carsten , Zhang Shirley L. , Sehgal Amita
Published: July 2023

Aging is associated with a number of physiologic changes including perturbed circadian rhythms; however, mechanisms by which rhythms are altered remain unknown. To test the idea that circulating factors mediate age-dependent changes in peripheral rhythms, we compared the ability of human serum from young and old individuals to synchronize circadian rhythms in culture. We collected blood from apparently healthy young (age 25-30) and old (age 70-76) individuals and used the serum to synchronize cultured fibroblasts. We found that young and old sera are equally competent at driving robust ∼24h oscillations of a luciferase reporter driven by clock gene promoter. However, cyclic gene expression is affected, such that young and old sera drive cycling of different genes. While genes involved in the cell cycle and transcription/translation remain rhythmic in both conditions, genes identified by STRING and IPA analyses as associated with oxidative phosphorylation and Alzheimer’s Disease lose rhythmicity in the aged condition. Also, the expression of cycling genes associated with cholesterol biosynthesis increases in the cells entrained with old serum. We did not observe a global difference in the distribution of phase between groups, but find that peak expression of several clock controlled genes (
PER3, NR1D1, NR1D2, CRY1, CRY2,
and
TEF
) lags in the cells synchronized with old serum. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that age dependent blood-borne factors affect peripheral circadian rhythms in cells and have the potential to impact health and disease via maintaining or disrupting rhythms respectively.
Predicting Ventricular Tachycardia Circuits in Patients with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy using Genotype-specific Heart Digital Twins
Authors: Zhang Yingnan , Zhang Kelly , Prakosa Adityo , James Cynthia , Zimmerman Stefan L , Carrick Richard , Sung Eric , Gasperetti Alessio , Tichnell Crystal , Murray Brittney , Calkins Hugh , Trayanova Natalia
Published: July 2023

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a genetic cardiac disease that leads to ventricular tachycardia (VT), a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder. Treating ARVC remains challenging due to the complex underlying arrhythmogenic mechanisms, which involve structural and electrophysiological (EP) remodeling. Here, we developed a novel genotype-specific heart digital twin (Geno-DT) approach to investigate the role of pathophysiological remodeling in sustaining VT reentrant circuits and to predict the VT circuits in ARVC patients of different genotypes. This approach integrates the patient’s disease-induced structural remodeling reconstructed from contrast-enhanced magnetic-resonance imaging and genotype-specific cellular EP properties. In our retrospective study of 16 ARVC patients with two genotypes: plakophilin-2 (
PKP2
,
n
= 8) and gene-elusive (GE,
n
= 8), we found that Geno-DT accurately and non-invasively predicted the VT circuit locations for both genotypes (with 100%, 94%, 96% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for GE patient group, and 86%, 90%, 89% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for
PKP2
patient group). Moreover, our results revealed that the underlying VT mechanisms differ among ARVC genotypes. We determined that in GE patients, fibrotic remodeling is the primary contributor to VT circuits, while in
PKP2
patients, slowed conduction velocity and altered restitution properties of cardiac tissue, in addition to the structural substrate, are directly responsible for the formation of VT circuits. Our novel Geno-DT approach has the potential to augment therapeutic precision in the clinical setting and lead to more personalized treatment strategies in ARVC.
Predicting the Sequence-Dependent Backbone Dynamics of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
Authors: Qin Sanbo , Zhou Huan-Xiang
Published: July 2023

Dynamics is a crucial link between sequence and function for intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). NMR spin relaxation is a powerful technique for characterizing the sequence-dependent backbone dynamics of IDPs. Of particular interest is the
15
N transverse relaxation rate (
R
2
), which reports on slower dynamics (10s of ns up to 1 μs and beyond). NMR and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have shown that local interactions and secondary structure formation slow down backbone dynamics and raise
R
2
. Elevated
R
2
has been suggested to be indicators of propensities of membrane association, liquid-liquid phase separation, and other functional processes. Here we present a sequence-based method, SeqDYN, for predicting
R
2
of IDPs. The
R
2
value of a residue is expressed as the product of contributing factors from all residues, which attenuate with increasing sequence distance from the central residue. The mathematical model has 21 parameters, representing the correlation length (where the attenuation is at 50%) and the amplitudes of the contributing factors of the 20 types of amino acids. Training on a set of 45 IDPs reveals a correlation length of 5.6 residues, aromatic and long branched aliphatic amino acids and Arg as
R
2
promotors whereas Gly and short polar amino acids as
R
2
suppressors. The prediction accuracy of SeqDYN is competitive against that of recent MD simulations using IDP-specific force fields. For a structured protein, SeqDYN prediction represents
R
2
in the unfolded state. SeqDYN is available as a web server at https://zhougroup-uic.github.io/SeqDYNidp/ for rapid
R
2
prediction.How the sequences of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) code for functions is still an enigma. Dynamics, in particular residue-specific dynamics, holds crucial clues. Enormous efforts have been spent to characterize residue-specific dynamics of IDPs, mainly through NMR spin relaxation experiments. Here we present a sequence-based method, SeqDYN, for predicting residue-specific backbone dynamics of IDPs. SeqDYN employs a mathematical model with 21 parameters and is trained on 45 IDPs. It provides not only rapid, accurate prediction but also insightful physical interpretation of sequence-dependent IDP dynamics.
Anchoring of grid fields selectively enhances localisation by path integration
Authors: Clark Harry , Nolan Matthew F.
Published: July 2023

Grid firing fields of neurons in the medial entorhinal cortex have been proposed as a neural substrate for spatial localisation and path integration. While there are strong theoretical arguments to support these roles, it has been challenging to directly test whether and when grid cells contribute to behaviours. Here, we investigate firing of grid cells during a task in which mice obtain rewards by recalling a location on a linear virtual track. We find that grid firing can either be anchored to the track, providing a code for position, or can instead encode distance travelled independent from the track position. Because engagement of these representations varied between and within sessions we were able to test whether positional grid firing predicts behaviour. We find that when a visual cue indicates the reward location, performance is similar regardless of whether grid cells encode position or distance. By contrast, in the absence of the visual cue, performance was substantially improved when grid cells encoded position compared to when they encoded distance. Our results suggest that positional anchoring of grid firing enhances performance of tasks that require path integration.
4D Bioprinting via Molecular Network Contraction for Membranous Tissue Fabrication
Authors: McLoughlin Shannon T. , McKenna Abigail R. , Fisher John P.
Published: July 2023

Generation of thin membranous tissues (TMT), such as the cornea, epidermis, and periosteum, presents a difficult fabrication challenge in tissue engineering (TE). TMTs consist of several cell layers that are less than 100 µm in thickness per layer. While traditional methods provide the necessary resolution for TMT fabrication, they require significant handling and incorporation of several layers is limited. Extrusion bioprinting offers precise control over deposition of different biomaterials and cell populations within the same construct but lacks the resolution to generate biomimetic TMTs. For the first time, a 4D bioprinting strategy that allows for the generation of cell‐laden TMTs is developed. Anionic gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels are treated with cationic poly‐l‐lysine (PLL), which induces charge attraction, microscale network collapse, and macroscale hydrogel shrinking. The impact of shrinking on hydrogel properties, print resolution, and cell viability is presented. Additionally, this work suggests that a novel mechanism is occurring, where PLL exhibits a contractile force on GelMA and PLL molecular weight drives GelMA shrinking capabilities. Finally, it is shown that this phenomenon can occur while maintaining an encapsulated cell population. These findings address a critical barrier by generating macroscale tissue structures with their microscale TMT counterparts in the same print.
Long‐Life Quasi‐Solid‐State Anode‐Free Batteries Enabled by Li Compensation Coupled Interface Engineering
Authors: Liu Yuzhao , Meng Xiangyu , Shi Yu , Qiu Jieshan , Wang Zhiyu
Published: July 2023

Initially, anode‐free Li metal batteries present a promising power source that merges the high production feasibility of Li‐ion batteries with the superb energy capabilities of Li‐metal batteries. However, their application confronts formidable challenges of extremely short lifespan due to the inadequacy of zero‐Li‐excess cell configuration against irreversible Li loss. A Li compensation coupled interface engineering strategy is reported for realizing long‐life quasi‐solid‐state anode‐free batteries. The Li2S is utilized as a sacrificial Li supplement to effectively counterbalance irreversible Li loss without damage to cell chemistry. Meanwhile, it demonstrates remarkable efficacy in establishing a robust yet slender inorganic–organic hybrid solid‐state interphase for inhibiting cell degradation by dead and dendritic Li. This strategy enables quasi‐solid‐state anode‐free batteries with a long lifespan of 500 cycles. The Ah‐scale quasi‐solid‐state pouch cells, featuring a high‐loading LiFePO4 cathode and lean gel polymer electrolyte, exhibit a high specific energy of 300 Wh kgcell−1. This achievement translates into an improvement of 46% in gravimetric energy and 94% in volumetric energy compared to LiFePO4||graphite batteries while outperforming LiFePO4||Li‐metal batteries by 22–47% in volumetric energy. Such quasi‐solid‐state anode‐free cells also demonstrate good safety, showcasing remarkable resistance against nail penetration in ambient air without failure, smoke, or fire accidents.
Truncated TDP‐43 proteoforms diagnostic of frontotemporal dementia with TDP‐43 pathology
Authors: Forgrave Lauren M. , Moon Kyung‐Mee , Hamden Jordan E. , Li Yun , Lu Phoebe , Foster Leonard J. , Mackenzie Ian R. A. , DeMarco Mari L.
Published: July 2023

INTRODUCTION

Biomarkers of TDP‐43 pathology are needed to distinguish frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP‐43 pathology (FTLD‐TDP) from phenotypically related disorders. While normal physiological TDP‐43 is not a promising biomarker, low‐resolution techniques have suggested truncated forms of TDP‐43 may be specific to TDP‐43 pathology. To advance biomarker efforts for FTLD‐TDP, we employed a high‐resolution structural technique to characterize TDP‐43 post‐translational modifications in FTLD‐TDP.

METHODS

High‐resolution mass spectrometry was used to characterize TDP‐43 proteoforms in brain tissue from FTLD‐TDP, non‐TDP‐43 dementias and neuropathologically unaffected cases. Findings were then verified in a larger cohort of FTLD‐TDP and non‐TDP‐43 dementias via targeted quantitative mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

In the discovery phase, truncated TDP‐43 identified FTLD‐TDP with 85% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The verification phase revealed similar findings, with 83% sensitivity and 89% specificity.

DISCUSSION

The concentration of truncated TDP‐43 proteoforms—in particular, in vivo generated C‐terminal fragments—have high diagnostic accuracy for FTLD‐TDP.

Highlights

Discovery: Truncated TDP‐43 differentiates FTLD‐TDP from related dementias.

Verification: Truncated TDP‐43 concentration has high accuracy for FTLD‐TDP.

TDP‐43 proteoforms <28 kDa have highest discriminatory power for TDP‐43 pathology.
Integrating Pillar[5]arene and BODIPY for a Supramolecular Nanoplatform To Achieve Synergistic Photodynamic Therapy and Chemotherapy
Authors: Quan Hui , Huang Yuying , Xia Jiacheng , Yang Jiawen , Lu Bing , Liu Peisheng , Yao Yong
Published: July 2023

BODIPY photosensitizers have been integrated with a hypoxia‐activated prodrug to achieve synergistic photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemotherapy. A novel BODIPY derivative BDP‐CN was designed and synthesized. It had two cyano groups to make it complex well with a water‐soluble pillar[5]arene. Their association constant was calculated to be (6.8±0.9)×106 M−1. After self‐assembly in water, regular spherical nanocarriers can be formed; these were used to encapsulate the hypoxia‐activated prodrug tirapazamine (TPZ). BDP‐CN displayed excellent photodynamic activity to complete PDT. In this process, O2 can be continuously consumed to activate TPZ to allow it to be converted to a benzotriazinyl (BTZ) radical with high cytotoxicity to complete chemotherapy. As a result, the formed nanoparticles showed excellent synergistic photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy efficacy. The synergistic therapy mechanism is discussed in detail.
Mapping tissue microstructure across the human brain on a clinical scanner with soma and neurite density image metrics
Authors: Schiavi Simona , Palombo Marco , Zacà Domenico , Tazza Francesco , Lapucci Caterina , Castellan Lucio , Costagli Mauro , Inglese Matilde
Published: July 2023

Soma and neurite density image (SANDI) is an advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging biophysical signal model devised to probe in vivo microstructural information in the gray matter (GM). This model requires acquisitions that include b values that are at least six times higher than those used in clinical practice. Such high b values are required to disentangle the signal contribution of water diffusing in soma from that diffusing in neurites and extracellular space, while keeping the diffusion time as short as possible to minimize potential bias due to water exchange. These requirements have limited the use of SANDI only to preclinical or cutting‐edge human scanners. Here, we investigate the potential impact of neglecting water exchange in the SANDI model and present a 10‐min acquisition protocol that enables to characterize both GM and white matter (WM) on 3 T scanners. We implemented analytical simulations to (i) evaluate the stability of the fitting of SANDI parameters when diminishing the number of shells; (ii) estimate the bias due to potential exchange between neurites and extracellular space in such reduced acquisition scheme, comparing it with the bias due to experimental noise. Then, we demonstrated the feasibility and assessed the repeatability and reproducibility of our approach by computing microstructural metrics of SANDI with AMICO toolbox and other state‐of‐the‐art models on five healthy subjects. Finally, we applied our protocol to five multiple sclerosis patients. Results suggest that SANDI is a practical method to characterize WM and GM tissues in vivo on performant clinical scanners.
Prevalence of diagnosed psychiatric disorders among adults who have experienced and internalized weight stigma
Authors: Pearl Rebecca L. , Hernandez Marian , Bach Caroline , Groshon Laurie , Wadden Thomas A.
Published: July 2023

Objective

Experiences and internalization of weight stigma are associated with greater self‐reported psychological distress and symptoms of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. However, little is known about the extent to which individuals who have experienced and internalized weight stigma are diagnosed with or provided treatment for psychiatric conditions. The current study aimed to characterize the prevalence of diagnosed psychiatric disorders among adults with obesity who had experienced and internalized weight stigma.

Methods

Weight‐loss treatment‐seeking adults with a history of experiencing weight stigma and high levels of internalized weight stigma were recruited for two clinical trials.

Results

In Study 1 (n = 84, 83.3% women, 67.9% Black), 25% of participants reported a lifetime history of a mood disorder. Few participants (<10%) reported current psychiatric diagnoses or use of psychiatric medications. In Study 2 (n = 129, 88.4% women, 65.1% white), one‐third of participants reported a mood disorder history, and 21.7% reported an anxiety disorder history, with approximately 16%–18% reporting current diagnoses. In both studies, few participants reported a history of a diagnosed eating disorder despite high rates of current full‐ or subthreshold symptoms. Based on Beck Depression Inventory‐II scores, approximately 54%–64% of participants reported mild or greater symptoms of depression.

Conclusions

Overall, lifetime history of diagnosed psychiatric disorders and current symptoms of depression and eating disorders were relatively high across two samples. More research is needed to determine the impact of weight stigma on the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders and other psychiatric concerns.
Teachers’ experience of the breakdown of infrastructures during the pandemic
Authors: Godhe Anna-Lena
Published: July 2023

This article reports on teachers’ experience of working during the Covid-19 pandemic. The analysis is based on a thematic analysis of group interviews with 76 teachers working throughout the Swedish school system, i.e., preschools, primary, secondary school, and municipal adult education. The interviews were conducted during autumn 2021. Conceptualizing teaching and working during the pandemic as a breakdown of infrastructures, the article focuses on how teachers talk about changes in institutional, social, technological, and pedagogical aspects of teaching and learning. The results show that changes in institutional aspects mainly concern teachers’ communication with colleagues, custodians, and school leadership. Social and pedagogical aspects are emphasized, while technological aspects are not as prominent in the teachers’ accounts. Commonly taken-for-granted aspects are brought to the fore, and their importance for teaching and learning has implications for the new normal and for what is of importance when creating future infrastructures for teaching and learning.
On the Felsenthal Power Index
Authors: Freixas Josep , Samaniego Dani
Published: July 2023

The paper that introduces the Felsenthal index is titled: ‘A well-behaved index of a priori P-Power for simple n-person games.’ In 2016, Felsenthal introduced his index for simple games. His definition does not base on the axiomatic approach. Then, Felsenthal regarded some properties and proved that his index satisfies a list of six reasonable and compelling postulates. Three of the properties that he regarded refer to the weighted games, but this fact does not reduce the definition of his index to weighted games. He proves that none of seven well-known efficient power indices proposed to date satisfies the list of postulates, indicating for each of them which of the six postulates violate. In this paper we extend some of his postulates, originally defined for weighted games, to simple games. The main objective of the article is to answer three open questions motivated in his article. In particular, we prove that his index may not be the unique one fulfilling the six proposed postulates, provide an axiomatic characterization for his index and, propose an impossibility result, which is obtained by adding a new postulate to a sublist of the postulates he considered. We also remark the existence of some alternative compelling postulates which are not satisfied for the index.
Signal-transducing adaptor protein 1 (STAP1) in microglia promotes the malignant progression of glioma
Authors: Yang Xinyu , Ji Chunxia , Qi Ying , Huang Jianhan , Hu Lang , Zhou Yuan , Zou Liping , Xia Yi , Tan Feng , Yao Yu , Chen Di
Published: July 2023

Background

Glioma is the most malignant primary brain tumor with a poor survival time. The tumour microenvironment, especially glioma-associated microglia/macrophages (GAMs), plays an important role in the pathogenesis of glioma. Currently, microglia (CD11b+/CD45Low) and macrophages (CD11b+/CD45High) are distinguished as distinct cell types due to their different origins. Moreover, signal-transducing adaptor protein 1 (STAP1) plays a role in tumourigenesis and immune responses. However, to date, no studies have been reported on STAP1 in GAMs.

Methods

The Cancer Genome Atlas and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas databases were used to investigate the association between STAP1 mRNA levels and clinical parameters (grades, mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase, and overall survival). RNA-sequencing, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to detect the expression level of STAP1 and related proteins. BV-2 cells were used to construct a STAP1-overexpressing cell line. Phagocytosis of BV-2 cells was assessed by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. C57BL/6 mice were used to establish orthotopic and subcutaneous glioma mouse models. Glioma growth was monitored by bioluminescence imaging.

Results

STAP1 expression in glioma-associated microglia is positively correlated with the degree of malignancy and poor prognosis of glioma. Moreover, STAP1 may promote M2-like polarisation by increasing ARG1 expression and inhibiting microglial phagocytosis of microglia. Increased ARG1 may be associated with the IL-6/STAT3 pathway. Impaired phagocytosis may be associated with decreased cofilin and filopodia.

Conclusion

STAP1 is positively associated with the degree of glioma malignancy and may represent a potential novel therapeutic target for glioma.
The Language of Compassion: A Few Lessons from Michigan Lawyers on How to Communicate Compassionately with Personal Injury Clients
Authors: Cudowska Maria
Published: July 2023

Though judges and lawyers encourage claimants to settle disputes out of courts, lawyers may struggle managing out-of-court dispute resolution processes. Some of the dispute management struggles are related to emotions of clients. One of the reasons why it may be difficult to manage a client’s emotions is because out-of-court disputes require a different communication skillset from lawyers. The following note features some advice for law students on how to incorporate compassionate communication methods in personal injury disputes. Personal injury disputes may be emotionally challenging for clients. Such challenges may manifest in communication issues and prolonged suffering of clients. Yet, both students and academics may dismiss the importance of soft-skill development in due course of legal education. As lawyer-socialization institutions, law schools have a duty to foster skills that are necessary to successfully assist clients in emotionally challenging disputes. This contribution discusses the notion of human suffering and compassion-based counselling scholarship in relation to personal injury disputes. The paper advocates for normalizing emotions in personal injury disputes, and through testimonials of Michigan lawyers, presents real life examples of how lawyers can communicate compassionately with their clients. Law students can benefit from learning about real-life examples of communication patterns between lawyers and clients to have better conversations with their clients.
Kinetic versus thermodynamic polymorph stabilization of a tri-carboxylic acid derivative at the solid–liquid interface
Authors: Arjariya Richa , Kaur Gagandeep , Sen Shantanu , Verma Sandeep , Lackinger Markus , Gopakumar Thiruvancheril G.
Published: July 2023

Self-assembly of C3 symmetric tricarboxylic acids typically results in 2-fold H-bonded structures. Here we demonstrate the formation of the previously predicted superflower structure based exclusively on 3-fold H-bonds.
Photochemical synthesis of fluorescent Au16(RGDC)14 and excited state reactivity with molecular oxygen
Authors: Aminfar Parimah , Yousefalizadeh Goonay , Steele Emily , Chen Juan , Zheng Gang , Stamplecoskie Kevin G.
Published: July 2023

Excited state dynamics and reactivity of aqueous metal nanoclusters with molecular oxygen.
Interfacial electron modulation of 2D nanopetal ZnIn2S4 with edge-decorated Ni clusters for accelerated photocatalytic H2 evolution
Authors: Zhang Nan , Li Gang , Yu Zhichao , Tang Zhenguo , Liu Xiaoyan , Wang Congwei , Wang Kaiying
Published: July 2023

Heterostructure interfacial engineering between photocatalyst and co-catalyst to obtain an optimized electronic structure is a promising approach to improve their performance in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Improving radio transmitter attachment methods for small mammals through captive trials and field studies
Authors: Robinson Freya , Van de Weyer Nikki , Henry Steve , Hinds Lyn A. , Brown Peter R. , Ruscoe Wendy A.
Published: July 2023

Radio tracking can be used to collect information about animal movement, home range, behaviour and habitat use. Many field studies have fitted radio transmitters to small rodents using permanent nylon cable tie collars and successfully collected movement and fate data. The approach to animal welfare within the context of scientific research prioritises minimising adverse effects on the research animals. Although a range of electronically activated release mechanisms exist in radio tracking collars for larger mammals, weight and size restrictions make these unsuitable for smaller animals (<30 g). Our aim was to identify a radio transmitter model and attachment method of an appropriate size and weight that would remain attached to a house mouse (Mus musculus) for >20 days to collect movement data – and then detach or show signs of detaching after 30 days. Laboratory and field trials identified that a cable tie collar with a cotton thread weak-link and customised radio transmitter was suitable for wild house mice in cropping paddocks. Glue-on methods did not stay attached for long enough to obtain more than a few days of tracking data.
Engineering activatable promoters for scalable and multi-input CRISPRa/i circuits
Authors: Alba Burbano Diego , Cardiff Ryan A. L. , Tickman Benjamin I. , Kiattisewee Cholpisit , Maranas Cassandra J. , Zalatan Jesse G. , Carothers James M.
Published: July 2023

Dynamic, multi-input gene regulatory networks (GRNs) are ubiquitous in nature. Multilayer CRISPR-based genetic circuits hold great promise for building GRNs akin to those found in naturally occurring biological systems. We develop an approach for creating high-performing activatable promoters that can be assembled into deep, wide, and multi-input CRISPR-activation and -interference (CRISPRa/i) GRNs. By integrating sequence-based design and in vivo screening, we engineer activatable promoters that achieve up to 1,000-fold dynamic range in an
Escherichia coli
-based cell-free system. These components enable CRISPRa GRNs that are six layers deep and four branches wide. We show the generalizability of the promoter engineering workflow by improving the dynamic range of the light-dependent EL222 optogenetic system from 6-fold to 34-fold. Additionally, high dynamic range promoters enable CRISPRa systems mediated by small molecules and protein–protein interactions. We apply these tools to build input-responsive CRISPRa/i GRNs, including feedback loops, logic gates, multilayer cascades, and dynamic pulse modulators. Our work provides a generalizable approach for the design of high dynamic range activatable promoters and enables classes of gene regulatory functions in cell-free systems.
An Institutional Perspective on Corporate Governance
Authors: Haxhi Ilir
Published: July 2023

Concerned with the structure of rights and responsibilities among corporate actors, corporate governance focuses primarily on the monitoring of executive boards, the protection of minority shareholders, corporate reporting and disclosure, and the improvement of employee participation in the corporate decision-making process. An institutional theory–driven approach helps position corporate governance as a social construct that reflects formal institutional rules as well as the informal practices that prevail when formal rules are absent, weak, or ambiguously defined. The institutional context thus constitutes a framework for corporate governance that captures not only the internal structures of corporations but also the institutional arrangements and national business systems in which these corporations are embedded. The actor-centered institutional perspective provides a comprehensive, in-depth, and nuanced picture not only of current governance structures but also of the characteristics and practices that prevail within and across different corporate governance models. Overall, adopting an institutional perspective underscores the importance of recognizing that corporate governance at the national level remains a key unit of analysis for explaining its diversity because it highlights the role of national institutions and their powerful institutional actors.
Bible and Film
Authors: Walsh Richard
Published: July 2023

For most, the designation “Bible and film” refers to the studio epics of the 1950s, as well as Mel Gibson’s financially successful The Passion of the Christ. This designation, however, also includes silents, travelogues, documentaries, musicals, comedies, parodies, television miniseries and serials, shorts, and avant-garde art films. Other than Jesus, who starred in numerous passion plays, the most popular biblical film subjects are those characters or stories already successful in 19th-century theater, operas, or novels. Since at least the 1990s, “Bible and film” has also referred to the work of biblical critics. Such scholars deal in semiotics, ideology, and reception criticism rather than the theology and apologetics of their precursors. These scholars have vastly expanded work under the “Bible and film” umbrella to include the Bible’s cinematic use as artifact, quotation, and so forth; the Bible and film (films that seem biblical, like so-called Christ figure or messianic films, only after convincing arguments); and film as Bible (where film functions as some biblical texts do). The most important recent developments in Bible and film, however, are technological advances in delivery systems and niche marketing. These developments, not Gibson’s success alone, appear to be driving the recently renewed interest in biblical films. Now, old films, including silents, and films from more diverse cultural perspectives (e.g., Indian and Islamic biblical films) are available to more people than ever before. While Christian Bibles may still dominate film, one can find other cultural perspectives as well as films or interpretations that challenge “the dominant.”
zooarchaeology
Authors: MacKinnon Michael
Published: July 2023

Zooarchaeology/archaeozoology focuses on the investigation of animals in the past through analysis of recovered faunal remains, largely teeth and bones, from archaeological sites. As such zooarchaeological analyses can disclose much about the animals themselves, the environmental and ecological parameters in which they existed, as well as the cultures that kept, herded, controlled, hunted, manipulated, killed, ate, valued, symbolized, treated, and exploited them. The historical development of zooarchaeological study within classical archaeology showcases its expansion from earlier studies (in the 1970s and 1980s) that concentrated on reconstructing the core economic and ecological roles of animals in antiquity to its current state, which emphasizes more diversified, multidimensional investigations of animals across all spectra and components of ancient life. Key topics of interest in the discipline include ancient husbandry operations; the interaction between animals and ecological settings; the input of meat and other animal foodstuffs in ancient diets; the exploitation of non-consumable animal products, such as bones, hides, and wool in antiquity; breeding regimes and their effects on animals during Greek and Roman times; and the roles and characteristics of work, pet, and sacrificial animals in the past.
Pantheon, reception of
Authors: Macaulay Elizabeth R.
Published: July 2023

The Pantheon, considered to be one of the greatest Roman buildings ever, was an architectural palimpsest that ancient and post-antique architects have reinterpreted, especially the combination of the dome and temple façade.