bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How International Aid Significantly Influence Ghana’s Trade Balance
Authors: Wada Esther Rahim , Kader Rahman Adams , Salam  Aziz Rahim
Published: December 2022

Purpose: The study's goal was to ascertain the impact of foreign aid on Ghana's trade balance, the impact of the country's exchange rate on trade balance, and the causal relationship between foreign aid and trade balance in Ghana. 

Methodology: Based on vector autoregressive (VAR) methods, descriptive and econometric analysis of time series data from 1982 to 2012 were conducted for the study. The existence of a link between foreign assistance and trade balance was examined using cointegration and causality tests. To ascertain how quickly economic equilibrium will shift from the short run to the long run, the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) was used.

Findings: The analysis found that the exchange rate has a favorable impact on Ghana's trade balance and that foreign aid has a negative impact on it. The study also showed a long-term connection between trade balance, exchange rate, and foreign aid as well as a bidirectional causation between foreign aid and Ghana's trade balance. According to the test for VECM, the transition from short-run to long-run equilibrium happened more quickly, at 1.43 or 143 percent.

Recommendation: The study recommended the Republic of Ghana to undertake an import substitution program in order to decrease the volume of imports that have been contributing to the long-term trade imbalance. Instead of depending on unreliable foreign aid, export promotion policy should be a priority in order to generate sufficient foreign revenues. To accomplish these goals, the Ghanaian government should be intelligently prepared to remove all trade restrictions that Ghanaian exporters faced on the international market.
Impact of Play as a Method of Teaching in Ghana's Preschools
Authors: Kaatachi  Ezekiel Kwadwo , Majid  Isaac Nkrumah
Published: December 2022

Purpose: This study aims to identify teacher characteristics impacting the use of play as a teaching approach in Ghana's state pre-primary schools. 

Methodology: The Theory of Reasoned Action by Fishbein and Ajzen served as the study's main framework, and the correlational design was used. Based on the goals of the study, thematic analysis was utilized to examine the qualitative data, which was then presented narratively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to organize and interpret quantitative data. The study was aided by the use of the SPSS 23 statistical package for social science. 

Findings: The results showed that most preschools used play as a teaching approach in a fairly present fashion. The results further demonstrated that play as a teaching approach and instructors' attitudes were significantly correlated. Positive attitudes toward play among teachers were associated with increased usage of play in the classroom. The usage of play and teachers' training were significantly correlated. 

Conclusion: There was a strong correlation between instructors' experience and play usage. 

Recommendations: The study suggested that in order to guarantee that pre-school teachers have good attitudes about using play as a teaching approach, the education administration and school heads should work to foster such attitude. Additionally, it's important to make sure that pre-primary school instructors have the required training and preparation so they can use play-based learning as a teaching technique with their students. The report also encouraged greater investigation into the elements that schools utilize to influence play as a teaching technique.
Arts and Livelihood: The Case of Sculpturing and Weaving in Kedjom Chiefdoms in the Western Grassfields of Cameroon
Authors: Moffor Exodus Tikere
Published: December 2022

Purpose: Arts is a source of livelihood in all societies and one of the major reasons artists produce objects is to sell and raise an income. This paper is on arts and livelihood: the case of sculpturing and weaving in Kedjom chiefdoms. Kedjom is one of the centres of wood carving in the Grassfields with the artists producing all sorts of carvings which include beds, thrones, stools, walking sticks and many more. This trade was regarded by the young people in the past as a job reserved for old people. But today, youths have found out that the trade is lucrative and many of them are currently engaged in it. This paper therefore explores the significance of these economic activities (sculpturing and weaving) in the livelihood of the people in particular and the chiefdom in general.

Methodology: Data for this paper was collected using both the qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative method was employed through participant observation, in-depth interview, focus group discussions, life histories and photography. The quantitative method was used through the questionnaires.

Findings: Weaving in general is an important art in Kedjom chiefdoms and cane basket production in particular is considered the traditional craft of the Kedjom people, a skill that everyone in the chiefdom ought to know. This trade (cane basket activity) is learned free of charge because the missionaries who introduced it to the first persons free of charge.

Conclusion: These two domains of art (wood carving and weaving) are income generating activities and the finances obtained from the sales of art objects is used to build houses, send children to school, provide medical services for the family and much more.

Recommendation: The people of Kedjom could benefit more if they could create arts’ cooperatives or common initiative groups to market their products. Considering the fact that arts is a source of employment, the government of Cameroon could provide subsidise to the artist to perfect as well as improve on their production.
Adaptive and maladaptive love attitudes
Authors: Karandashev Victor
Published: December 2022

Multiple studies throughout recent years have investigated the theory of love that identified six love attitudes: Eros, Ludus, Storge, Mania, Pragma, and Agape. Research found that these love attitudes are associated with many aspects of romantic relationships, individual emotional characteristics, and personalities. However, there are few comprehensive reviews of those findings. This article reports meta-analysis and two empirical studies that explored emotional profiles of people with different love attitudes. Meta-analysis of multiple studies has demonstrated the prevalence of positive emotionality among individuals with Eros love attitudes and negative emotionality among individuals with Ludus and Mania love attitudes. Results of empirical studies showed that individuals with Ludus and Mania tend to experience more negative emotions, while those with Eros – more positive emotions. Pragma, Storge, and Agape love attitudes are characterized by infrequent and less intense positive and negative emotions. The love of individuals with Ludus and Mania types can be interpreted as defensive attitudes related to their experience of negative emotions. Generally, studies showed that Eros love attitude tends to promote an adaptive emotional experience. Individuals with Eros love have a better chance to be happy in their romantic relationships. On the other hand, Ludus and Mania are rather maladaptive love attitudes. Individuals with Ludus and Mania tend to be unhappy in relationship. Pragma, Storge, and Agape are neutral or moderately adaptive love attitudes without intense positive and negative emotions. Due to this, they do not show any salient defensive psychological mechanisms in their relationships.
A novel strategy to develop electrochemical atrazine sensor
Authors: Katinaitė Emilija , Žutautas Vytautas , Bytautaitė Aneta , Pauliukaitė Rasa
Published: December 2022

Determination of pesticides is important for human health. Sensors are one of the best solutions because they do not require a long sample preparation and can be used not only in a laboratory. Electrochemical sensors can be easily minimised and employed for the detection of pesticides in liquid samples such as ground or wastewater. Conducting polymers have a few roles in electrochemical sensors, therefore, they can be good candidates for sensor development. Electrochemically co-polymerised folic acid and riboflavin as well as folic acid and L-lysine were employed for the detection of atrazine using square wave voltammetry. The co-polymer composition was optimised and characterised electrochemically and spectroscopically. The optimal composition of polyfolic acid and poly-L-lysine co-polymer electrosynthesised from the monomer ratio 1:10 was the best in terms of stability and sensitivity to atrazine. The best method was the square wave voltammetry showing the best sensitivity to atrazine 198 ± 1 μA/μM cm2, and the limit of detection was 14.8 nM. However, the sensitivity in tap water was significantly lower but still suitable for atrazine detection by the spike method.
‘Urf’ And Custom In Common Law And Islamic Law: Common Law Marriage, Zawag Orfi And Zawaj Misyar
Authors: Masud Muhammad Khalid
Published: December 2022

No abstract
Justice for Muslim Women in India: the sinuous path of the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board1
Authors: Dequen Jean-Philippe
Published: December 2022

Muslim Women movements in India have been very active in the past decade, attracting attention both in the Sub-Continent and beyond. This article vows to present a particular trend of this activism centred on the legal sphere, moreover within the frame of the Muslim personal law system and its non-State adjudicative bodies. Through the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB), it will present the example of an attempt to challenge the ‘patriarchal’ legal discourse on Islamic Law by procuring an alternative dispute resolution forum specifically aimed at Muslim women’s issues, as well as advocating for a more gender equal interpretation of the Quran through the prism of ‘Islamic Feminism’. However, it will show that despite its President’s tremendous efforts, the AIMWPLB’s scope remains limited. Although establishing a somewhat successful mediation centre in the Lucknow area, it has for the moment failed to extend its reach in the rest of the Indian Territory. Likewise, its particular discourse on Islamic Law has had but little influence on its overall application in India, and paradoxically could even be counter-productive towards its progression towards a gender equalitarian interpretation.
Call for Papers
Authors: Mehdi Rubya
Published: December 2022

No abstract
Contents
Authors: Mehdi Rubya
Published: December 2022

List of Articles
Towards a Jurisprudence of the Embodied mind – Sarah Lund, Forbrydelsen and the Mindful Body
Authors: Leiboff Marett
Published: December 2022

As Erika Fischer-Lichte remarked, the great Polish theatre theorist Jerzy Grotowski redefined the notion of the body of the actor as an embodied mind, as a responsive and responding self. Conversely, law abjures the body, its interpreters – lawyers and scholars – inured in practices of rationality, reason and logic, or mindful disembodiment. Travelling through the Danish capital, encountering Danes real and fictitious to illustrate how much we function through our bodies, this essay suggests that we are better and more effective legal interpreters as embodied minds, rather than disembodied minds. But this is not mindless embodiment, a mere reflex or bodily outburst. The embodied mind is self-aware (physically, socially, intellectually) and possesses the same embodied virtuous morality held by Grotowski’s actors. Reminiscent of Kierkegaard’s uniting of the mind-body divide, this connected mind and body challenges the Augustinian negation of the body and associated interpretative assumptions inherited over centuries of legal thought.
Social Transformation and Normative Change Through CSR Standards? China’s Engagement with International Labour Law in Domestic Guidance for the Textile Sector
Authors: Buhmann Karin
Published: December 2022

Drawing on China’s international and national Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement in the field of labour rights, this article discusses prospects for implementation and integration of international law standards through relatively non-politicized market oriented contexts. Contrary to the conventional approach in the West, China has explicitly engaged with CSR through hard law as well as guidance of a mixed regulatory character. In several cases this involves direct reference to international law standards among which some are in line with China’s stance in international debates while others less so. Chinese labour law is comprehensive, but implementation lacks behind due to lack of knowledge and weak institutions. In this context, CSR is deployed as a modality to help transform legal requirements into practice in business operations. The article argues that what may look like skirting the law may in fact promote strengthened implementation that supports social transformation and integration of international norms.
Viewing the Labor Law Reform in China From a Perspective of Legal Globalization
Authors: Xu Ya-wen , Cheng Qian
Published: December 2022

After the cold war, the trends of legal globalization became more and more obvious. People’s Republic of China (PRC) began its connection with the international community and the global market, and its legal reform after the launch of the “reform and opening-up” policy. By examining China’s labor law reform, we can see how legal globalization has influenced China’s legal system. China introduced and transplanted many institutions, terms of ILO conventions during its labor law reform. It also accepted many principles and conceptions of ILO conventions in its labor law and constitutional law, which would shape China’s labor law reform. Multinational corporations (MNC) and transnational civil society organizations (TCSO) influenced Chinese labor law reform through lobbying, advocacy, public education, and litigations. Informal norms such as Corporate Social Responsibility standards developed by MNCs and TSCOs also inspired Chinese legislators to improve China’s labor law and Chinese SCOs or business associations to develop labor standards to fill the gaps in China’s labor law and regulations. In conclusion, in the age of legal globalization, the labor law reform in China is a kind of legal transplantation. International norms, actions by multinational corporations and transnational civil society, and their informal norms together constitute the force which promotes the transplantation and the reform of China’s legal system.

 Key Words: legal globalization, global governance, labor law, law reform
Community Governance and Social Capital Accumulation in Shanghai
Authors: Chunrong Liu
Published: December 2022

No abstract
Mosque is for All
Authors: Kühle Lene
Published: December 2022

The Islamic trust or foundation – the waqf – is traditionally a component of the complex of ideas, concepts and rules that is Islamic law. After marginalization under colonization and modernization, in recent decades the concept of the waqf has received renewed attention. This article presents the emergence of the waqf concept among Muslims in Denmark, partly in tandem with the establishment of Islamic foundations under Danish foundation legislation. The article argues that the establishment of Islamic foundations may be a beneficial way of organizing for Danish Muslims, but that the attempt to coordinate the understanding of foundations found in Danish legislation and in Islamic law may foreground certain tensions.
The Islamic Juridical Vacuum and Islamic Authorities’ Role in Divorce Cases
Authors: Petersen Jesper
Published: December 2022

This article argues that Islamic authorities do not try to sustain a jurisdiction over Islamic divorce in Denmark. They respond to a juridical demand caused by the absence of Islamic legal institutions in Denmark, which I call the Islamic juridical vacuum. This vacuum entails that sharia is often defined locally in communities or families rather than by Islamic authorities, and when women are unable to obtain an Islamic divorce they turn to Islamic authorities for help. That is, in the absence of Islamic legal institutions they expect Islamic authorities such as imams and teachers in mosques to take the role of an Islamic judge upon themselves and issue Islamic divorces. However, Islamic authorities in Denmark have no formal legal power to issue divorces and they are often incapable of helping women whose husbands object to divorce. Therefore, some women end up in a type of marital captivity that Anika Liversage and I – with the Arabic word for marrigage, nikah – call nikah-captivity (Liversage and Petersen 2020).
Experiments for Democracy during the Culture Revolution in China
Authors: Jiahong He
Published: December 2022

The democratic system based on political consultation and the people’s congress in PRC belongs to the category of indirect democracy, in which the key is to guarantee those in power represent the public’s interests. The Cultural Revolution was an attempt for this purpose and gave Chinese people a chance to experience some practices of mass democracy, including the democratic supervision in the form of mass criticism, the democratic governance in the form of rebellion and usurping, and the democratic participation in the form of Trinity. However, the Culture Revolution became a national disaster. With lessons learned, the Chinese leadership recognized the importance of the rule of law.
Legal Construction of Algorithm Interpretation
Authors: Weiling Luo , Deng Liang
Published: December 2022

Nowadays the development of AI technology is not yet mature, let alone the legal definition and regulation of its type, even the type of technology itself is full of uncertain factors. Because of the rapid development of technology and the openness of theories, scientists have not yet formed a unified consensus and system on cutting-edge technical issues. Therefore, at present, governments all over the world are actively formulating the development plans of AI, but the supervision and regulation of AI are scattered and lagging behind. There is nothing wrong with encouraging the development of new technologies, but the application of technologies requires a responsible response to various ethical demands from human society. No matter what form of AI technology and its application are inseparable from the algorithm and the issue of “algorithm accountability” may probably be a focus of legal regulations on AI and the path of accountability is algorithm interpretation. It is desirable but regrettable that the EU’s GDPR stipulates the non-binding “right to explanation”. But the stop of GDPR is exactly the starting point of constructing the algorithm interpretation mechanism in law.
Klimakrisen som et wicked problem – en kritik af klimainterventioner
Authors: Meistrup Lise Isabella , Klitmøller Jacob
Published: December 2022

Klimakrisen kræver handling. Adfærdsdesign foreslås af nogle som en potentiel del af løsningen, men der er betydelige problemer ved denne tilgang. Ved at definere klimakrisen som wicked, argumenterer vi for, at adfærdsdesign ikke er egnet som løsningsmodel for klimakrisens grundlæggende problemer, fordi paradigmets teori om tænkning ikke indebærer den type problemløsning, klimakrisen kræver. Som alternativ præsenterer vi John Deweys filosofi og teori om tænkning, hvilket giver anledning til en revideret forståelse af facilitering af klimahandling. Via en perspektivering til Nancy Fraser pointerer vi, at handlinger skal forstås i relation til et globalt opbygget marked, der udfordrer både politiske, sociale og økologiske aspekter af vores fælles tilværelse. Med analysen peger vi på, at et ensidigt blik på personers individuelle fejlbarlige tænkning og klimahandling flytter fokus fra de fælles samfundsmæssige og markedsmæssige strukturer, hvormed definerende elementer af klimakrisens karakter (dets wickedness) overses.
Feedback inhibition underlies new computational functions of cerebellar interneurons
Authors: Halverson Hunter E , Kim Jinsook , Khilkevich Andrei , Mauk Michael D , Augustine George J
Published: December 2022

The function of a feedback inhibitory circuit between cerebellar Purkinje cells and molecular layer interneurons (MLIs) was defined by combining optogenetics, neuronal activity recordings both in cerebellar slices and in vivo, and computational modeling. Purkinje cells inhibit a subset of MLIs in the inner third of the molecular layer. This inhibition is non-reciprocal, short-range (less than 200 μm) and is based on convergence of one to two Purkinje cells onto MLIs. During learning-related eyelid movements in vivo, the activity of a subset of MLIs progressively increases as Purkinje cell activity decreases, with Purkinje cells usually leading the MLIs. Computer simulations indicate that these relationships are best explained by the feedback circuit from Purkinje cells to MLIs and that this feedback circuit plays a central role in making cerebellar learning efficient.
Critical roles for ‘housekeeping’ nucleases in type III CRISPR-Cas immunity
Authors: Chou-Zheng Lucy , Hatoum-Aslan Asma
Published: December 2022

CRISPR-Cas systems are a family of adaptive immune systems that use small CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) nucleases to protect prokaryotes from invading plasmids and viruses (i.e., phages). Type III systems launch a multilayered immune response that relies upon both Cas and non-Cas cellular nucleases, and although the functions of Cas components have been well described, the identities and roles of non-Cas participants remain poorly understood. Previously, we showed that the type III-A CRISPR-Cas system in Staphylococcus epidermidis employs two degradosome-associated nucleases, PNPase and RNase J2, to promote crRNA maturation and eliminate invading nucleic acids (Chou-Zheng and Hatoum-Aslan, 2019). Here, we identify RNase R as a third ‘housekeeping’ nuclease critical for immunity. We show that RNase R works in concert with PNPase to complete crRNA maturation and identify specific interactions with Csm5, a member of the type III effector complex, which facilitate nuclease recruitment/stimulation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that RNase R and PNPase are required to maintain robust anti-plasmid immunity, particularly when targeted transcripts are sparse. Altogether, our findings expand the known repertoire of accessory nucleases required for type III immunity and highlight the remarkable capacity of these systems to interface with diverse cellular pathways to ensure successful defense.
Human Dectin-1 is O-glycosylated and serves as a ligand for C-type lectin receptor CLEC-2
Authors: Haji Shojiro , Ito Taiki , Guenther Carla , Nakano Miyako , Shimizu Takashi , Mori Daiki , Chiba Yasunori , Tanaka Masato , Mishra Sushil K , Willment Janet A , Brown Gordon D , Nagae Masamichi , Yamasaki Sho
Published: December 2022

C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) elicit immune responses upon recognition of glycoconjugates present on pathogens and self-components. While Dectin-1 is the best-characterized CLR recognizing β-glucan on pathogens, the endogenous targets of Dectin-1 are not fully understood. Herein, we report that human Dectin-1 is a ligand for CLEC-2, another CLR expressed on platelets. Biochemical analyses revealed that Dectin-1 is a mucin-like protein as its stalk region is highly O-glycosylated. A sialylated core 1 glycan attached to the EDxxT motif of human Dectin-1, which is absent in mouse Dectin-1, provides a ligand moiety for CLEC-2. Strikingly, the expression of human Dectin-1 in mice rescued the lethality and lymphatic defect resulting from a deficiency of Podoplanin, a known CLEC-2 ligand. This finding is the first example of an innate immune receptor also functioning as a physiological ligand to regulate ontogeny upon glycosylation.
eLife’s new model and its impact on science communication
Authors: Urban Lara , De Niz Mariana , Fernández-Chiappe Florencia , Ebrahimi Hedyeh , Han Laura KM , Mehta Devang , Mencia Regina , Mittal Divyansh , Ochola Elizabeth , Paz Quezada Carolina , Romani Facundo , Sinapayen Lana , Tay Andy , Varma Aalok , Yahia Mohamed Elkheir Lamis
Published: December 2022

The eLife Early-Career Advisory Group discusses eLife’s new peer review and publishing model, and how the whole process of scientific communication could be improved for the benefit of early-career researchers and the entire scientific community.
Biomechanical analyses of pterygotid sea scorpion chelicerae uncover predatory specialisation within eurypterids
Authors: Bicknell Russell D. C. , Simone Yuri , van der Meijden Arie , Wroe Stephen , Edgecombe Gregory D. , Paterson John R.
Published: December 2022

Eurypterids (sea scorpions) are extinct aquatic chelicerates. Within this group, members of Pterygotidae represent some of the largest known marine arthropods. Representatives of this family all have hypertrophied, anteriorly-directed chelicerae and are commonly considered Silurian and Devonian apex predators. Despite a long history of research interest in these appendages, pterygotids have been subject to limited biomechanical investigation. Here, we present finite element analysis (FEA) models of four different pterygotid chelicerae—those ofAcutiramus bohemicus,Erettopterus bilobus,Jaekelopterus rhenaniae, andPterygotus anglicus—informed through muscle data and finite element models (FEMs) of chelae from 16 extant scorpion taxa. We find thatEr. bilobusandPt. anglicushave comparable stress patterns to modern scorpions, suggesting a generalised diet that probably included other eurypterids and, in the Devonian species, armoured fishes, as indicated by co-occurring fauna.Acutiramus bohemicusis markedly different, with the stress being concentrated in the proximal free ramus and the serrated denticles. This indicates a morphology better suited for targeting softer prey.Jaekelopterus rhenaniaeexhibits much lower stress across the entire model. This, combined with an extremely large body size, suggests that the species likely fed on larger and harder prey, including heavily armoured fishes. The range of cheliceral morphologies and stress patterns within Pterygotidae demonstrate that members of this family had variable diets, with only the most derived species likely to feed on armoured prey, such as placoderms. Indeed, increased sizes of these forms throughout the mid-Palaeozoic may represent an ‘arms race’ between eurypterids and armoured fishes, with Devonian pterygotids adapting to the rapid diversification of placoderms.
Spatial Distribution of Telecom Masts, Accessibility and Customer Hotspots in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana
Authors: Yeboah Emmanuel , Sarfo Isaac , Batame Michael , Kwang Clement , Addai Foster Kofi , Koku John Ernest , Aikins Ben , Madeleina Otoka Niabanga Dania , Boah Anita
Published: December 2022

Geographical distribution of telecommunication masts, patronage, and provision of quality services, without unintended consequences, remain vital for telecommunication operators. The spatial distribution of telecommunication masts and services in Ghana are not uniformly distributed, resulting in the disparities of signal strengths in different locations. Bad signals directly or indirectly affect various forms of business transactions and communication activities. We assessed the spatial distribution of telecom masts and customer hotspots for the major telecommunication networks in Ghana using geospatial techniques. Findings revealed most of the telecom masts were highly concentrated in Accra Metropolis. Again, most of the enterprise business customers were clustered within the 4-km radii of sited masts. More investment is needed by telecommunication industries to boost patronage, particularly in La Dade Kotopon and Tema Metropolis. The area’s prospect of attracting more customers increases sustainability concerns of telecommunication masts availability, accessibility, environmental health and management risks, among key industrial players.
Millets for Food and Nutritional Security for Small and Marginal Farmers of North West India in the Context of Climate Change: A Review
Authors: Tiwari Himanshu , Naresh R. K. , Kumar Lalit , Kataria S. K. , Tewari Sumit , Saini Ankit , Yadav Rakesh Kumar , Asati Ruchi
Published: December 2022

In India, 600 million people are dependent on the agricultural sector, the majority of them are small farmers with up to 2 hectares of land holding. Rain-fed is two thirds of the net sown area. About 40 million hectares of this land being flood-prone and about two thirds of it is drought-prone. Geographically, the poorest people typically reside in more exposed or marginal areas, such as on nutrient-deficient soils or flood plains. Due to limited human and financial resources, the poor are also less able to respond and have very limited capacity to cope with the effects of climate change and adapt to a changing hazard burden. The great majority of the world's population is feeds through the current food system, which also supports for the livelihoods of over 1 billion people. Since 1961, The amount of food supply per capita has increased by more than 30%, accompanied by greater use of nitrogen fertilizers and water resources for irrigation. However, 821 million people are currently undernourished, 613 million women and girls between the ages of 15 to 49 are suffer from iron-deficiency, 151 million children under the age of five are stunted, and 2 billion adults are overweight or obese. Millets have a lower carbon footprint of 3,218 kg than wheat and rice, with 3,968 and 3,401 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare, respectively, helping to lessen the consequences of climate change. Because they are less demanding to external inputs, drought-tolerant, and register a comparatively lower carbon footprint than other cereals. Millets have also attracted the attention of growers and policy-makers in the current implications of adverse effects of climate change. After the institutional neglect for a few decades, millets made a comeback because to these beneficial effects. Millets are suitable staples when focusing on the food and nutritional security of the common people. However, the successful millet harvest warrants an integration of proven and climate-smart technologies to meet the future needs of the ever-growing population. In terms of marginal growing conditions and high nutritional value, millets outperform other grains like wheat and rice as climate change complaint crops.
Preapproval Promises to Voluntarily Withdraw FDA-Approved Drugs
Authors: Fernandez Lynch Holly , Sachs Rachel E.
Published: December 2022

This Viewpoint provides recommendations for improvements to strengthen legal obligations and decrease ambiguity for the US Food and Drug Administration regarding their reliance on voluntary preapproval withdrawal pledges.
Evaluation of Telehealth Visit Attendance After Implementation of a Patient Navigator Program
Authors: Mechanic Oren J , Lee Emma M. , Sheehan Heidi M. , Dechen Tenzin , O’Donoghue Ashley L. , Anderson Timothy S. , Annas Catherine , Harvey Leanne B. , Perkins Allison A. , Severo Michael A. , Stevens Jennifer P. , Kimball Alexa B.
Published: December 2022

Importance

The dramatic rise in use of telehealth accelerated by COVID-19 created new telehealth-specific challenges as patients and clinicians adapted to technical aspects of video visits.

Objective

To evaluate a telehealth patient navigator pilot program to assist patients in overcoming barriers to video visit access.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This quality improvement study investigated visit attendance outcomes among those who received navigator outreach (intervention group) compared with those who did not (comparator group) at 2 US academic primary care clinics during a 12-week study period from April to July 2021. Eligible participants had a scheduled video visit without previous successful telehealth visits.

Interventions

The navigator contacted patients with next-day scheduled video appointments by phone to offer technical assistance and answer questions on accessing the appointment.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was appointment attendance following the intervention. Return on investment (ROI) accounting for increased clinic adherence and costs of implementation was examined as a secondary outcome.

Results

A total 4066 patients had video appointments scheduled (2553 [62.8%] women; median [IQR] age: intervention, 55 years [38-66 years] vs comparator, 52 years [36-66 years]; P = .02). Patients who received the navigator intervention had significantly increased odds of attending their appointments (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.6-2.6) when compared with the comparator group, with an absolute increase of 9% in appointment attendance for the navigator group (949 of 1035 patients [91.6%] vs 2511 of 3031 patients [82.8%]). The program’s ROI was $11 387 over the 12-week period.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this quality improvement study, we found that a telehealth navigator program was associated with significant improvement in video visit adherence with a net financial gain. Our findings have relevance for efforts to reduce barriers to telehealth-based health care and increase equity.
Association of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Resected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma After Multiagent Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Sugawara Toshitaka , Rodriguez Franco Salvador , Sherman Samantha , Kirsch Michael J. , Colborn Kathryn , Ishida Jun , Grandi Samuele , Al-Musawi Mohammed H. , Gleisner Ana , Schulick Richard D. , Del Chiaro Marco
Published: December 2022

Importance

The total number of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is increasing. However, the added role of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in these patients remains unknown.

Objective

To evaluate the association of AC with overall survival (OS) in patients with PDAC who received multiagent NAC followed by curative-intent surgery.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective, matched-cohort study used data from the National Cancer Database and included patients with PDAC diagnosed between 2010 and 2018. The study included patients at least 18 years of age who received multiagent NAC followed by surgical resection and had available records of the pathological findings. Patients were excluded if they had clinical or pathological stage IV disease or died within 90 days of their operation.

Exposures

All included patients received NAC and underwent resection for primary PDAC. Some patients received adjuvant chemotherapy.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was the OS of patients who received AC (AC group) vs those who did not (non-AC group). Interactions between pathological findings and AC were investigated in separate multivariable Cox regression models.

Results

In total, 1132 patients (mean [SD] age, 63.5 [9.4] years; 577 [50.1%] male; 970 [85.7%] White) were included, 640 patients in the non-AC group and 492 patients in the AC group. After being matched by propensity score according to demographic and pathological characteristics, 444 patients remained in each group. The multivariable Cox regression model adjusted for all covariates revealed an association between AC and improved survival (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59-0.85; P < .001). Subgroup interaction analysis revealed that AC was significantly associated with better OS (26.6 vs 21.2 months; P = .002), but the benefit varied by age, pathological T category, and tumor differentiation. Of note, AC was associated with better survival in patients with any pathological N category and positive margin status.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, AC following multiagent NAC and resection in patients with PDAC was associated with significant survival benefit compared with that in patients who did not receive AC. These findings suggest that patients with aggressive tumors may benefit from AC to achieve prolonged survival, even after multiagent NAC and curative-intent resection.
Neurofilament light chain levels predict encephalopathy and outcome in community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: Chung Ha‐Yeun , Wickel Jonathan , Oswald Marcus , Dargvainiene Justina , Rupp Jan , Rohde Gernot , Witzenrath Martin , Leypoldt Frank , König Rainer , Pletz Mathias W. , Geis Christian ,   CAPNETZ Study Group
Published: December 2022

Objective

Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a biomarker for neuroaxonal damage and has been found to be elevated in several neurological diseases with neuronal destruction. New onset of confusion is a hallmark of severity in infections. The objective of this study was to determine whether sNfL levels are increased in patients with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) and if increased sNfL levels are associated with disease‐associated confusion or disease severity.

Methods

In this observational study, sNfL levels were determined with single‐molecule array technology in CAP patients of the CAPNETZ cohort with validated CRB (confusion, respiratory rate, and blood pressure)‐65 score. We determined associations between log‐transformed sNfL concentrations, well‐defined clinical characteristics, and unfavorable outcome in multivariable analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the prediction accuracy of sNfL levels for confusion in CAP patients.

Results

sNfL concentrations were evaluated in 150 CAP patients. Patients with confusion had higher sNfL levels as compared to non‐confusion patients of comparable overall disease severity. ROC analysis of sNfL and confusion provided an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.73 (95% CI 0.62–0.82). Log‐transformed sNfL levels were not associated with general disease severity. In a logistic regression analysis, log2‐sNfL was identified as a strong predictor for an unfavorable outcome.

Interpretation

sNfL levels are specifically associated with confusion and not with pneumonia disease severity, thus reflecting a potential objective marker for encephalopathy in these patients. Furthermore, sNfL levels are also associated with unfavorable outcome in these patients and might help clinicians to identify patients at risk.
Labyrinthine Acoustic Metamaterials with a Subwavelength Bandgap Inspired by Topology‐Optimized Structural Design
Authors: Noguchi Yuki , Yamamoto Takashi , Matsushima Kei , Yamada Takayuki
Published: December 2022

Herein, a structural design for labyrinthine acoustic metamaterial is proposed using a topology optimization method to realize a subwavelength bandgap preventing the transmission of low‐frequency sounds. The optimized design is composed of air‐filled channels of different widths, which exhibit the subwavelength bandgap based on the monopole resonance induced in the meta‐atom. In addition to the optimized meta‐atom design, a simplified meta‐atom design with a small coiling coefficient is proposed by extracting structural features of the optimized design. The bandwidth and central frequency of the subwavelength bandgap can be controlled by adjusting the size parameters of the simplified meta‐atom. Numerical analysis for acoustic waves based on the finite‐element method is conducted to demonstrate the low transmission coefficients of the obtained designs for a wide‐ and low‐frequency range. Furthermore, using a 3D printer, experimental specimens of optimized and simplified meta‐atoms are constructed, and impedance tube experiments are performed to show their functionality.
Fabrication of Ti–N and Ti–Al–N Coatings on Mg–Li Alloy by Surface Mechanical Nanoalloying Treatment under Nitrogen Atmosphere at Room Temperature
Authors: Chen Zhuo , Tian Yun-Fei , Sun Jian , Yang Xue , Du Xiao-Dong
Published: December 2022

Ti–N and Ti–Al–N coatings are fabricated on LZ91 Mg–Li alloy by surface mechanical nanoalloying treatment (SMNAT) in nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature. This method is proposed to improve the high cost and high treatment temperature of preparing nitride coatings on Mg–Li alloys. The microstructure, phase compositions, and hardness of coatings are investigated systematically. Results show that Ti–N coating containing α‐Ti, β‐Ti, TiN0.3 and TiN0.9 phases can be prepared by SMNAT with pure titanium powder at room temperature under nitrogen atmosphere. The structure of Ti–N coating is a mixture of nanocrystalline and amorphous. The surface microhardness of Ti–N coating is 566.8 HV, which is about 80 HV higher than that of Ti coating obtained in argon atmosphere. By adding of the aluminum powders, a Ti–Al–N composite coating composed of nitrides (Ti3Al2N2, Ti2AlN, TiN0.76, and AlN) and intermetallics (Al11Ti5 and Al2Ti) is formed. The surface microhardness of Ti–Al–N composite coating reaches 743.2 HV, which is about 165.4 HV higher than that of Ti–Al coating obtained in argon atmosphere. Additionally, the continuity and uniformity of Ti–Al–N composite coating is improved due to which the Al powders can be seen as the bonding agent during SMNAT.
A 3D Framework with Li3N–Li2S Solid Electrolyte Interphase and Fast Ion Transfer Channels for a Stabilized Lithium‐Metal Anode
Authors: Ni Shuyan , Zhang Mengtian , Li Chuang , Gao Runhua , Sheng Jinzhi , Wu Xin , Zhou Guangmin
Published: December 2022

The Li‐metal anode has been recognized as the most promising anode for its high theoretical capacity and low reduction potential. However, the major drawbacks of Li metal, such as high reactivity and large volume expansion, can lead to dendrite growth and solid electrolyte interface (SEI) fracture. An in situ artificial inorganic SEI layer, consisting of lithium nitride and lithium sulfide, is herein reported to address the dendrite growth issues. Porous graphene oxide films are doped with sulfur and nitrogen (denoted as SNGO) to work as an effective lithium host. The SNGO film enables the in situ formation of an inorganic‐rich SEI layer, which facilitates the transport of Li‐ions, improves SEI mechanical strength, and avoids SEI fracture. In addition, COMSOL simulation results reveal that the microchannels fabricated by the 3D printing technique further shorten the Li‐ion transfer pathways and homogenize heat and stress distribution in the batteries. As a result, the assembled anode shows low capacity fading of 0.1% per cycle at 2 C rate with the sulfur cathode. In addition, the high lithium utilization of the SNGO host enables the anode to provide a stable capacity at low negative/positive electrode ratios under 3 in LiS batteries.
Advances in Tumor Antigen‐Based Anticancer Immunotherapy: Recent Progress, Prevailing Challenges, and Future Perspective
Authors: Shi Wei , Chen Shuang , Chi Fanglian , Qiu Qianqian , Zhong Yue , Bian Xiaojian , Zhang Hao , Xi Junting , Qian Hai
Published: December 2022

Elimination of tumors by regulating the immune system is the primary research focus in the rapidly developing field of immune‐oncology. Current immunotherapeutic strategies mainly include immune checkpoint blockade therapy, adoptive immune cell therapy, and cancer vaccines. Among them, tumor antigen‐based cancer vaccines can potentially elicit specific and potent anti‐tumor immune responses with less toxicity and side effects, which are recognized as promising treatments in immunotherapy. The selection of tumor antigens is the primary determinant of cancer vaccine design, whereas systematic reviews based on them are scarce. In the present review, currently known tumor antigens and recent developments in cancer vaccines based on tumor antigens, including traditional antigen vaccines, neoantigen vaccines, shared antigen vaccines, and oral antigen vaccines, in hopes of providing fundamental basis for further development of novel cancer vaccine‐based therapies, are summarized.
Unamplified and Real‐Time Label‐Free miRNA‐21 Detection Using Solution‐Gated Graphene Transistors in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Deng Minghua , Ren Zhanpeng , Zhang Huibin , Li Ziqin , Xue Chenglong , Wang Jianying , Zhang Dan , Yang Huan , Wang Xianbao , Li Jinhua
Published: December 2022

The incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) in men globally increases as the standard of living improves. Blood serum biomarker prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) detection is the gold standard assay that do not meet the requirements of early detection. Herein, a solution‐gated graphene transistor (SGGT) biosensor for the ultrasensitive and rapid quantification detection of the early prostate cancer‐relevant biomarker, miRNA‐21 is reported. The designed single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) probes immobilized on the Au gate can hybridize effectively with the miRNA‐21 molecules targets and induce the Dirac voltage shifts of SGGT transfer curves. The limit of detection (LOD) of the sensor can reach 10−20 M without amplification and any chemical or biological labeling. The detection linear range is from 10−20 to 10−12 M. The sensor can realize real‐time detection of the miRNA‐21 molecules in less than 5 min and can well distinguish one‐mismatched miRNA‐21 molecule. The blood serum samples from the patients without RNA extraction and amplification are measured. The results demonstrated that the biosensor can well distinguish the cancer patients from the control group and has higher sensitivity (100%) than PSA detection (58.3%). Contrastingly, it can be found that the PSA level is not directly related to PCa.
Self‐Assembled Amphiphilic Monolayer for Efficient and Stable Wide‐Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Liu Lu , Yang Yang , Du Minyong , Cao Yuexian , Ren Xiaodong , Zhang Lu , Wang Hui , Zhao Shuai , Wang Kai , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: December 2022

The applications of wide‐bandgap (WBG) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are limited by their subpar efficiency and stability due to their high density of defects, especially those at interfaces. Theoretical analyses suggest a monolayer of molecules, which is of minimum thickness and, hence, minimum resistance across the interface, possessing multifunctional groups and a permanent dipole, should effectively passivate the defects and minimize energy losses at interfaces. Herein, a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) composed of amphiphilic molecules is designed and assembled as the interface layer to reduce the energy loss and enhance interface coupling between the perovskite and hole transport layer. It is found that the SAM also builds a back surface field through a p‐type doping effect, which promotes hole extraction and suppress the carrier recombination. Consequently, a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.4% in parallel with a high open‐circuit voltage up to 1.25 V is attained. Additionally, an indoor PCE of 38.7% is realized. Both are among the best in their respective categories. Moreover, an all‐perovskite tandem solar cell is configured, presenting a decent PCE of 23.2%. This work emphasizes the significance of WBG PSCs for optoelectronic applications and indicates the eminent effects of SAMs for optimization of WBG PSCs.
Presynaptic membrane protein dysfunction occurs prior to neurodegeneration and predicts faster cognitive decline
Authors: Lan Guoyu , Li Anqi , Liu Zhen , Ma Shaohua , Guo Tengfei ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Although presynaptic loss measured by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) growth‐associated protein‐43 (GAP‐43) is significantly involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the sequential association between CSF GAP‐43 and AD‐typical neurodegeneration is poorly understood.

Methods

We compared baseline CSF GAP‐43 levels (n = 730) and longitudinal CSF GAP‐43 changes (n = 327) in various biological stages of AD, and investigated their relationships with cross‐sectional and longitudinal measures of residual hippocampal volume, 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose PET, regional gray matter volume and cortical thickness, and cognition.

Results

Elevated CSF GAP43 levels were significantly associated with faster rates of hippocampal atrophy, AD‐signature hypometabolism and cortical thinning, and middle temporal gray matter atrophy‐related and AD‐signature hypometabolism‐related cognitive decline. In contrast, baseline levels of all these neurodegeneration biomarkers did not predict longitudinal CSF GAP‐43 increases.

Discussion

These findings suggest that presynaptic loss may occur prior to neurodegeneration, highlighting the importance of lowing tau aggregation and tau‐related synaptic dysfunction in elderly adults and AD patients.