Search

Sensory stimuli drive the maturation and function of the mammalian nervous system in part through the activation of gene expression networks that regulate synapse development and plasticity. These networks have primarily been studied in mice, and it is not known whether there are species- or clade-specific activity-regulated genes that control features of brain development and function. Here we use transcriptional profiling of human fetal brain cultures to identify an activity-dependent secreted factor, Osteocrin (OSTN), that is induced by membrane depolarization of human but not mouse neurons. We find that OSTN has been repurposed in primates through the evolutionary acquisition of DNA regulatory elements that bind the activity-regulated transcription factor MEF2. In addition, we demonstrate that OSTN is expressed in primate neocortex and restricts activity-dependent dendritic growth in human neurons. These findings suggest that, in response to sensory input, OSTN regulates features of neuronal structure and function that are unique to primates., Author(s): Bulent Ataman [1]; Gabriella L. Boulting [1]; David A. Harmin [1]; Marty G. Yang [1]; Mollie Baker-Salisbury [1]; Ee-Lynn Yap [1]; Athar N. Malik [1]; Kevin Mei [1]; Alex [...]

Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are a family of thermoplastic elastomers with great properties such as high elongation and excellent chemical and abrasion resistance, which are processable by conventional melting methods. Nevertheless, TPUs lose mechanical properties and thermal stability at higher temperatures. In this work, we designed and synthesized a new TPU with limited crosslinking of the soft segments in order to improve its performance at high temperatures while preserving processability. Additionally, the new TPU maintains its transparency. With the incorporation of 10% trifunctional polyol, the [T.sub.g] was increased by 7[degrees]C, the storage modulus at room temperature (25[degrees]C) was improved by 412 MPa (136%), the rubbery plateau was extended by 32[degrees]C and the thermal stability was enhanced by 4[degrees]C at T5. Moreover, the TPU with controlled crosslinking of the soft segments shows exceptional creep behavior both at room temperature and at 150[degrees]C, where the creep rate decreased by 80%. The new TPU shows limited decrease in tensile properties and can be processed by conventional thermoplastic processing techniques. Highlights * Design and synthesis of a new TPU with limited crosslinking of the soft segments. * Incorporation of the crosslinks into the soft segments preserves system processability. * Enhanced mechanical and thermal properties while preserving system transparency. * High temperature application window extended by 32[degrees]C. * Creep rate at 150[degrees]C lowered by 80%. KEYWORDS controlled crosslinking, creep, processability, thermomechanical properties, TPU, triol, 1 | INTRODUCTION Polyurethanes are a class of polymers that find extensive applications due to the versatility in configuring their molecular structure. Their use ranges from elastomers, rigid foams, and [...]

Phytic acid (PA) modified polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber membranes for heavy metal adsorption were fabricated using electrospinning for the first time, and its mechanical properties and heavy metal adsorption under various conditions were tested. The results demonstrated that PA modification improved the mechanical properties of PAN nanofiber membranes at low modification ratio due to increased intermolecular hydrogen bonds and cross-linking. The highest breaking strength and elongation at break were 70.1% and 31.5% over PAN without modification when the PA:PAN ratio was close to 1:5. The [Pb.sup.2+] absorption tests in the water solutions demonstrated that the optimal PA:PAN ratio was 1:1, the optimal temperature was 30[degrees]C, and the optimal pH was 7. With the optimal parameters, the adsorption capacity reached the maximum and equilibrium after 4 h. The adsorption capacities increased with higher initial [Pb.sup.2+] concentrations. The highest adsorption capacity in this study was approximately 240.1 mg [g.sup.-1] at the initial [Pb.sup.2+] concentration of 750.72 mg [L.sup.-1]. In addition, after de-adsorption process, the 1:1 PA modified membranes maintained 91.9% re-adsorption capacities compared to primary adsorption. Consequently, the PA-modified PAN nanofiber membranes showed promising potentials of metal ion adsorption in wastewater treatment. Highlights * Phytic acid modified polyacrylonitrile nanofiber membranes were fabricated. * Low ratio modification improved the mechanical properties. * The optimal modification ratio for [Pb.sup.2+] adsorption is 1:1. * The maximum [Pb.sup.2+] adsorption capacity was 240.1 mg [g.sup.-1] in this study. * The membranes maintained 91.9% capacities at re-adsorption tests. KEYWORDS adsorption, heavy metals, nanofiber membrane, phytic acid, polyacrylonitrile, 1 | INTRODUCTION Lead (Pb) is one of the major types of toxic heavy metals and is commonly found in the anthropogenic activities including battery production, motor production, and old [...]

Mountains play an outsized role in water resource availability, and the amount and timing of water they provide depend strongly on temperature. To that end, we ask the question: How well are atmospheric models capturing mountain temperatures? We synthesize results showing that high-resolution, regionally relevant climate models produce 2-m air temperature (T2m) measurements colder than what is observed (a 'cold bias'), particularly in snow-covered midlatitude mountain ranges during winter. We find common cold biases in 44 studies across global mountain ranges, including single-model and multimodel ensembles. We explore the factors driving these biases and examine the physical mechanisms, data limitations, and observational uncertainties behind T2m. Our analysis suggests that the biases are genuine and not due to observation sparsity or resolution mismatches. Cold biases occur primarily on mountain peaks and ridges, whereas valleys are often warm biased. Our literature review suggests that increasing model resolution does not clearly mitigate the bias. By analyzing data from the Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory (SAIL) field campaign in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, we test various hypotheses related to cold biases and find that local wind circulations, longwave (LW) radiation, and surface-layer parameterizations contribute to the T2m biases in this particular location. We conclude by emphasizing the value of coordinated model evaluation and development efforts in heavily instrumented mountain locations for addressing the root cause(s) of T2m biases and improving predictive understanding of mountain climates. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Mountain climates are rapidly changing, and along with them are the temperature-sensitive components of the water budget that societies have relied on. Yet atmospheric models, from those that predict the weather to those that predict the future climate, are several degrees too cold on average in these same mountain regions. This cold bias has not been systematically identified in the published literature yet, so we discuss evidence of its pervasiveness across models, its potential causes, and pathways to eliminate it using targeted models and observations. With community support, this bias can be uprooted, thereby enabling model projections that better project the climatic and water resource changes in these vital regions. KEYWORDS: Mountain meteorology; Model evaluation/ performance; Temperature; Climate, 1. Introduction In this study, we compile evidence suggesting that many types of high-resolution atmospheric models (Gutowski et al. 2020) report cold biases in 2-m air temperature ('T2m') measurements across [...]

Polymer modified asphalt containing dynamic chemical bonds has the potential to increase the service life of asphalt pavement due to its excellent self-healing ability. The effect of this self-healing accelerator with dynamic chemical bond on the rheological properties and aging resistance of asphalt binder is still unclear. In this study, a self-healing polyurea elastomer (PUA) modified asphalt containing dynamic disulfide bonds was prepared. The high- and low-temperature performance and fatigue resistance of PUA modified asphalt were studied through multiple stress creep, low-temperature bending beam rheometer, mechanical glass transition temperature, and linear amplitude scanning tests. Moreover, considering the service environment of asphalt over a wide temperature range (-30-70[degrees]C), three rheological aging indices (RAI) were proposed. At the same time, the aging resistance of PUA modified asphalt was evaluated by chemical aging index (CAI) based on carbonyl and sulfoxide groups. Finally, a linear relationship is established between RAI and CAI over a wide temperature range. The experimental results show that self-healing accelerators can increase the resistance to permanent deformation of asphalt by 47.41% and the fatigue resistance by 88.54%. The S value of PUA modified asphalt decreased by at most 33.21% and the m value increased by at most 35.23% compared with BA at -18[degrees]C. Moreover, PUA can improve the long-term thermal oxygen aging resistance of asphalt binders by at least 38.33% over a wide temperature range. Highlights * Rheological properties of self-healing polyurea elastomer modified asphalt. * Aging resistance of self-healing polyurea elastomer modified asphalt. * Proposed rheological aging indices for different temperature ranges. * Clarified the correlation between chemical-rheological aging indices. KEYWORDS aging index, aging resistance, rheological properties, self-healing asphalt, wide temperature range, 1 | INTRODUCTION Asphalt, a widely used paving material, is prone to aging under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and thermal oxygen, resulting in a decrease in the performance of [...]

This research focused on the development of anion exchange membrane electrolytes suitable for direct methanol alkaline fuel cells (DMAFC) by employing a straightforward blending and solution casting process complemented by subsequent heat treatment. Tartaric acid (TA) was employed as a cross-linking agent to enhance the heat resistance and structural integrity of the PVA matrix. The distinctive attributes of the PT (PVA and tartaric acid blend) samples, including water absorption and swelling capacity, were comprehensively investigated with respect to variations in both TA content (expressed as wt % relative to the PVA matrix) and alterations in the duration of thermal treatment. Cross-link formation between the polymer chains and TA was determined using FTIR analysis. The samples were subjected to comprehensive analysis, encompassing the determination of crystallinity via X-ray diffraction (XRD), assessment of thermal stability using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), investigation of morphology through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and measurement of ionic conductivity using AC Impedance spectroscopy. The methanol permeability was measured to determine the selectivity values of the membranes. Subsequently, within the DMAFC system, the performances of the PT30-3, PT40-2, and PT40-3 membranes, which exhibited the highest selectivities, were assessed. The contribution of the crosslinking process to the resistance of the membranes to oxidative conditions, as represented by the Fenton solution, was evaluated to assess the chemical stability of the membranes. The maximum power densities for PT30-3 and PT40-3 membranes reached 15.29 and 12.53 mW/[cm.sup.2] at 30[degrees]C, respectively. These figures exhibited a notable increase, reaching 32.73 mW/[cm.sup.2] for PT30-3 and 31.72 mW/[cm.sup.2] for PT40-3 when the temperature was elevated to 60[degrees]C. This study confirmed that the crosslinking strategy using TA assisted by thermal treatment is very simple and competitive compared with other techniques reported in the literature. PT membranes are promising candidates for commercialization and utilization in DMAFC owing to their environment-friendly nature, cost-effectiveness, and high efficiency. Highlights * TA cross-linking improved the thermal and dimensional stability of PVA. * The PT membrane properties varied with TA content and thermal treatment time. * Some electrolytes in this study outperformed those previously reported for DMAFC. * PT membranes offer efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness for DMAFCs. KEYWORDS anion-exchange membrane, cross-linking, electrolyte, polyvinyl alcohol, tartaric acid, 1 | INTRODUCTION The combustion of fossil fuels emits pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which have adverse effects on the environment. (1-3) The decline in [...]

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by a microwave method. MWCNTs had filamentous shapes (10 [micro]m) and were intertwined in bundles (40-60 nm diameter). The rapid oxidation of MWCNTs with a loss of 90% of weight was observed from 530 to 630[degrees]C. 2% Residue was present at 630[degrees]C, which gradually decreased to 1.2% at 1000[degrees]C. In a silicone elastomer, increased thermal conductivity at a concentration of 8% MWCNTs was observed. The highest thermal conductivity of the nano-modified elastomer was 0.48 W/m[degrees]C with 8.0 wt% MWCNTs. The highest electrical conductivity was 2.4 * [10.sup.-5] S [cm.sup.-1] at 8.0 wt% MWCNTs. Both the thermal and electrical conductivities showed percolation behavior with the percolation thresholds at 6 and 5 wt%, respectively. The MWCNTs synthesized by microwave method gave a good power economy in comparison to MWCNTs obtained by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on NiMg catalyst. Microwave-synthesized MWCNTs showed high stability at a potential of 250 V in an electrical resistance heater application due to the presence of Fe on the surface of MWCNTs. The developed heater can effectively operate at 220 V, which enables the use of the tubes in household appliances, such as heat fans, irons, and washing machines. Highlights * Synthesis of MWCNTs by microwave plasma treatment of ferrocene and graphite. * Characterization of MWCNTs by different techniques. * Concentration dependence of electro- and thermal conductivity of MWCNTs in elastomers. * Electro-physical parameters studies of elastomers modified with MWCNTs. * Heat generation studies in elastomeric matrix with MWCNTs. KEYWORDS ferrocene and graphite, heat dissipation, heaters, MWCNTs, thermal and electrical conductivities, 1 | INTRODUCTION The use of carbon nanotubes is very important in the production of functional materials. (1-3) The developed materials are being used in various applications including biomedicine, (4) [...]

Byline: P. Tian, Y. Wang, H. Zhang, H. Yang, M. U. Rehman, F. Kebzai and Y. Li Keywords: Tibetan pigs; Yaks; Epidemics; Zoonotic diseases; Risk factors INTRODUCTION The Tibetan pig [...]

Byline: A. Sudha, M. F. Firdouse, A. S. Amala, S. Arunprakash, I. Johnson, R. Anandham and N. Saranya Keywords: Activators, BLB, Biofilm, Characterization, in planta, Xanthomonadin. INTRODUCTION Rice (Oryza sativa [...]

A dedicated bus lane is designed to give priority to buses over private cars on the road. However, this approach might waste road traffic capacity when bus demand is low and private car demand is high. Thus, it is essential to utilize bus lanes more effectively. Previous work focuses on allowing private cars to use bus lanes which may cause bus delays. To strike a balance, some approaches involve mandating private cars to leave bus lanes and limiting the number of private cars entering bus lanes. However, these highly rely on transportation infrastructure and emerging technologies. Hence, we propose a simple method of a partially space-shared bus lane, which allows private cars to merge into the bus lane at specific locations. Lane-changing decision is modeled as a result of speed difference between adjacent lanes. Traffic flow is simulated by the LWR model in the Lagrangian coordinate system. Two scenarios are set up--dedicated bus lane and partially space-shared bus lane--to evaluate the partially space-shared system. The only optimization variable is the location that allows private cars to conduct lane-changing. We use the genetic algorithms to optimize the system. Finally, simulation results show that the partially space-shared bus lane reduces private-car delays and total delays of the system. The buses would experience an increase of delays, inevitably. But the bus delay increase could be limited in a small range, which maintains the bus priority. In addition, a multiple lane-changing position strategy is better than the single position one. This approach is suitable for traffic situations with low bus demand and high private car demand. Our work is expected to contribute to the design of future urban bus lanes and improve overall traffic operations., Author(s): Zhentao Yin [1]; Kai Yuan (corresponding author) [1]; Shenshen Zheng [1] 1. Introduction Dedicated bus lane (DBL) is a well-known measure to prioritize public transportation [1, 2] by separating [...]

This paper focuses on the differences in crowding perception among different types of passengers in trains, aiming to optimize passenger experience and improve the level of service of urban rail transit. Based on data from a passenger survey on the Beijing subway, this paper introduces the concept of Crowding Perception Threshold (CPT) and analyzes the principle of passenger spatiotemporal crowding. Considering factors such as gender, age, travel purpose, and standing density of passengers, the paper constructs a quantitative model of crowding perception using the ordered logit model and proposes a method for classifying the level of service accordingly. The study results indicate that the CPTs for all types of passengers range from 91.8% to 101.6%, with the females, elderly individuals, and noncommuters showing greater sensitivity to crowding. In the temporal dimension, all types of passengers have higher CPTs during peak hours than during off-peak hours, influenced by passengers' crowding expectations. In the spatial dimension, the level of service for most types of passengers is considered crowded at standing densities of 6-7pax/m[sup.2] during peak hours, while the level of service for all types of passengers is deemed to be very crowded at 8pax/m[sup.2], at which point additional passengers are not recommended., Author(s): Xia Lu [1]; Baohua Mao (corresponding author) [1]; Min Wang (corresponding author) [2,3]; Yixin Zhao [1]; Peining Tian [1] 1. Introduction In some cities in China, the issue of [...]

This review covers characteristics and potential applications of various versions of the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry for analyzing both liquid and solid samples. Particular emphasis is given to research published within the past decade, as information on XRF's previous applications can be found in earlier reviews and monographs. The results of experiments on determining fundamental atomic parameters, such as mass absorption coefficients, fluorescence yields, transition probabilities for the emission of specific lines of elements, and nonradiative transition probabilities. Additionally, the review addresses the capabilities of newly designed models of XRF spectrometers developed in recent years. The application of total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for diverse samples is examined in greater detail. Furthermore, the document presents data on the utilization of XRF in investigating nanoparticles of some typical materials. These particles exhibit qualitatively novel properties and have become a focal point of nanotechnology, an area rapidly developing in the last few decades., Author(s): A. G. Revenko [sup.1] , G. V. Pashkova [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.465343.3, 0000 0004 0397 7466, Institute of the Earth's Crust, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, , [...]

Previous studies suggested that controlling parenting behaviors and higher social media use seem to be associated with several internalizing problems, such as anxiety or rejection sensitivity. In the present study, based on the Tripartite Sociocultural Influence Model and the Sociocultural Model of Disordered Eating, we investigated the mediating role of interpersonal sensitivity on the relationship between adolescents' perceived parental controlling behaviors, social network use, and physical appearance anxiety. A cross-sectional approach was used in a sample consisting of 488 early and middle adolescents aged 12 to 15 (M = 13.57, SD = .93, 52.3% females). The results suggested that adolescents' sensitivity to other people's behaviors and feelings decreased when controlling parenting was higher. In addition, interpersonal sensitivity partially mediated the relation between adolescents' perceived parental controlling behaviors and physical appearance anxiety, as well as between social network use and physical appearance anxiety, when controlling for gender and age. Though further research is needed, these specific results might shed more light on the benefits of using social media responsibly and exposure to healthy body image-related content., Author(s): Alexandra Maftei [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/022kvet57, grid.8168.7, 0000 0004 1937 1784, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, , [...]

Left-behind children (LBC) are defined as children (< 18 years old) whose parent(s) (one or both) migrate to work for at least six months per year. Separation from parents has been shown to negatively influence fear acquisition and academic performance. However, it remains unclear whether LBC exhibit impaired fear acquisition, and if so, whether it is associated with poor academic performance. This study recruited 72 children (LBC and non-LBC [NLBC]) using Pavlovian conditioned fear acquisition and generalization. In this task, the conditioned stimuli (CS+ or CS-) are two neutral female faces, and the unconditioned stimulus (US) is white noise. The second phase of the study included a generalization stimulus (GS), which was a 20% blend of the CS ± faces. US expectancy was used to indicate fear learning. Differences between groups were analyzed separately for each phase (acquisition or generalization) using a linear mixed model with the Group, CS-type, and Trial as factors. Relationships between fear acquisition and (i) the duration of parental absence and (ii) academic performance were analyzed based on Pearson correlations. Academic performance was evaluated from each child's most recent final examination. The results showed that the NLBC group gradually learned to associate the CS+ with the US and to disassociate the CS- from the US during fear-acquisition trials; however, the LBC group did not. The degree of fear acquisition was negatively correlated with the duration of parental absence and positively correlated with current levels of academic performance. Thus, the results indicate that children who were separated from their parents in early childhood tend to (i) lack the ability to discriminate safety from threats and (ii) exhibit poor academic performance., Author(s): Yiwen Qiu [sup.1] , Haoran Dou [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Yuqian Dai [sup.1] , Hong Li [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.4] , Yi Lei [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/01vy4gh70, grid.263488.3, [...]

One of the most frequent issues in newborns is acute kidney injury (AKI), which can lengthen their hospital stay or potentially raise their chance of dying. The gut-kidney axis establishes a bidirectional interplay between gut microbiota and kidney illness, particularly AKI, and demonstrates the importance of gut microbiota to host health. Since the ability to predict neonatal AKI using blood creatinine and urine output as evaluation parameters is somewhat constrained, a number of interesting biomarkers have been developed. There are few in-depth studies on the relationships between these neonatal AKI indicators and gut microbiota. In order to gain fresh insights into the gut-kidney axis of neonatal AKI, this review is based on the gut-kidney axis and describes relationships between gut microbiota and neonatal AKI biomarkers., Author(s): Kun Yang [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Guoxia Du [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Jinjing Liu [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Shuai Zhao [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Wenbin Dong [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] [...]

Background IgA vasculitis is the most common vasculitis in children and is often complicated by acute nephritis (IgAVN). Risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among children with IgAVN remains unknown. This study aimed to describe the clinical management and kidney outcomes in a large cohort of children with IgAVN. Methods This observational cohort study used the PEDSnet database to identify children diagnosed with IgAV between January 1, 2009, and February 29, 2020. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared among children with and without kidney involvement. For children followed by nephrology, clinical course, and management patterns were described. Patients were divided into four categories based on treatment: observation, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade, corticosteroids, and other immunosuppression, and outcomes were compared among these groups. Results A total of 6802 children had a diagnosis of IgAV, of whom 1139 (16.7%) were followed by nephrology for at least 2 visits over a median follow-up period of 1.7 years [0.4,4.2]. Conservative management was the most predominant practice pattern, consisting of observation in 57% and RAAS blockade in 6%. Steroid monotherapy was used in 29% and other immunosuppression regimens in 8%. Children receiving immunosuppression had higher rates of proteinuria and hypertension compared to those managed with observation (p < 0.001). At the end of follow-up, 2.6 and 0.5% developed CKD and kidney failure, respectively. Conclusions Kidney outcomes over a limited follow-up period were favorable in a large cohort of children with IgAV. Immunosuppressive medications were used in those with more severe presentations and may have contributed to improved outcomes. Graphical abstract, Author(s): Hillarey K. Stone [sup.1] [sup.2] , Mark Mitsnefes [sup.1] [sup.2] , Kimberley Dickinson [sup.3] [sup.4] , Evanette K. Burrows [sup.3] [sup.4] , Hanieh Razzaghi [sup.3] [sup.4] [sup.5] , Ingrid [...]

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT), and zinc oxide (ZnO) were used to modify the polypropylene nonwoven material by the methods of 'wet chemistry' and low-energy electron beam deposition (EBD). The influence of nonwoven material modification on the morphology, chemical composition, filtration, and antibacterial properties was established. The modified material has antibacterial activity against the gram-positive strain Staphylococcus aureus and against gram-negative strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (suppression of bacterial growth for materials with OCT was 100%, with ZnO--70%). PTFE application to Aquaspun leads to a significant increase in the contact angle (from 141.3[degrees] to 152.7[degrees]) and air filtration efficiency (from 78.3% to 83.4%), which provides the barrier properties of the material. It was established that the material obtained using low-energy EBD demonstrated a more pronounced antimicrobial potential against the tested strains of St. aureus. Highlights * The influence of polypropylene nonwoven materials surface modification methods is systematically investigated. * Low-energy electron beam deposition increases antibacterial and filtration properties of nonwoven materials. * Surface modification methods increase barrier properties of polypropylene nonwoven materials. KEYWORDS coatings, fibers, modification, poly(propylene) (PP), 1 | INTRODUCTION In recent years, in the manufacture of personal protective equipment (PPE) from nonwoven polymeric materials, the most successful areas associated with both the modification of the source [...]

Motivation plays a critical role in human cognitive function, while acting as a driving force for the necessary behavior to achieve a desired goal and success (i.e., achievement motivation). Based on the theoretical background of achievement motivation, this study designed an incentive delay task with four motivational orientations (i.e., promotion, prevention, mastery/self, and performance/other). To investigate whether people would have their behavioral patterns toward achievement motivation orientation, we applied an unsupervised clustering algorithm to classify individuals' behavioral responses acquired from the task by categorizing certain behavioral similarities. As a result, this hierarchical clustering approach classified subjects into two distinctive subgroups: Group#1 (i.e., the pro/pre group, n = 52) and Group#2 (i.e., the self/other group, n = 48). Based on clustering, Group#1 showed significantly better performance with promotion/prevention orientations, whereas Group#2 exhibited significantly higher performance with self/other orientations. Structural brain analyses discovered increased gray matter volume and sulcal depth in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in the pro/pre group compared to the self/other group. With resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data, we found higher local brain fluctuations in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the self/other group compared to the pro/pre group. Furthermore, mPFC seed-based functional connectivity showed significantly increased functional coupling with the posterior cingulate cortex in the self/other group relative to the pro/pre group. Taken together, these results shed light on structural and functional neural mechanisms related to achievement motivation and, furthermore, provide novel insights regarding PPC's role in motivational processing toward promotion- and prevention-focused orientation., Author(s): Hyun Jung Han [sup.1] , Sangil Lee [sup.2] , Wi Hoon Jung [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/03ryywt80, grid.256155.0, 0000 0004 0647 2973, Department of Psychology, Gachon University, , 1342 [...]

We developed a 'thinking-behavior-outcome' logical framework to explore the effect of entrepreneurs' cognitive flexibility on dual innovation and the performance of new ventures, drawing on social cognitive theory, and collected data from a sample of 293 new ventures through a questionnaire to conduct an empirical analysis. We find that entrepreneurs' cognitive flexibility may indirectly affect the performance of new ventures by influencing their dual innovation activities; resource management capabilities positively moderate the relationship between entrepreneurs' cognitive flexibility and dual innovation. In addition, our study demonstrates that dual innovation equilibrium has a stronger effect on the performance of new ventures than single-dimensional innovation activities. Our study highlights the importance of entrepreneurial cognitive flexibility for new ventures to implement innovation strategies and improve performance. The findings not only help to clarify the relationship between entrepreneurs' cognitive flexibility and new venture performance and to enrich social cognitive theory, but they also provide new perspectives on responses to enhance dual innovation capabilities of new ventures under the influence of COVID-19., Author(s): Qingjin Wang [sup.1] , Renbo Shi [sup.1] , Kaiyun Zhang [sup.1] , Changlin Han [sup.1] , Yang Gao [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/021cj6z65, grid.410645.2, 0000 0001 0455 0905, School [...]

Low-acrylonitrile nitrile butadiene rubbers (NBRs) are seriously degraded by No. 15 oil in the hydraulic system of aircraft. The present work aims to prepare rubber materials with excellent low-temperature and No. 15 aviation hydraulic oil resistance. Terpolymerization epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO) and low-acrylonitrile NBR were blended. The blends were vulcanized using peroxide. The effects of the ECO/NBR blending ratio on the oil resistance and low-temperature, physical and mechanical, hot air aging, and ozone aging properties were investigated using a multitechnique approach. The results showed that ECO had double bonds and could be vulcanized by peroxide. The percentage of volume swelling of ECO in No. 15 oil was about 1/7 of that of NBR. As the ECO content increased, the oil and ozone resistance and brittle temperature were gradually improved. The coefficient of cold resistance under compression and glass transition temperature peaked at a ratio of 50/50 due to the migration of dicumyl peroxide from ECO to NBR. Further, vulcanization, hot air aging, and other physical properties are also discussed. This work provides a reference for the development of ultra-low-temperature performance and No. 15 oil-resistant sealing rubber materials. Highlights * ECO EPION 301 could be cured by peroxide. * The blends of ECO and low-acrylonitrile NBR could be cured by peroxide. * The blends exhibited better oil resistance and low-temperature performance. * Some dicumyl peroxide migrated from ECO to NBR in the blends. KEYWORDS blend, epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO), low-temperature, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), oil resistance, 1 | INTRODUCTION Rubber seals are the key components of aviation hydraulic systems. The harsh application environment requires that rubber seals have excellent low-temperature resistance and aviation hydraulic oil resistance [...]

This contribution is aimed to examine the layer stability and solvent swelling behavior of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) obtained from poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), poly(styrene sulfonic acid sodium salt) (PSS), and poly(acrylic acid) against different salt solutions using Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation in terms of the solution concentration, charge type of the top layer, and PEM structure. In general, all multilayers remain stable against Mg[Cl.sub.2] and NaCl, phosphate buffer saline, ionic liquid, and solvents, namely methanol and heptane, while 4.5-bilayered PAH-PSS film displays partial layer decomposition against 1 M NaOCl. Additionally, it is found that the stability of Layer-by-Layer (LbL) films remains unaffected by the surface charge type, although variations in the adsorbed and desorbed amounts, as well as the viscoelastic properties, occur during the salt passage and rinsing steps. Along the salt exposure, changes in dissipation ([DELTA]D) significantly increase because of the fast diffusion of ions through the multilayers but return to their initial value after washing. Especially high and reversible [DELTA]D values of the PEMs against methanol are evaluated as swelling in methanol without chemical disintegration. This behavior can be attractive for solvent-induced release behavior for the LbL-assembled films or microcapsules. Highlights * Multilayer stability and solvent swelling of PEMs are discussed using QCM-D. * PAH-PSS films have the highest stability against salt solutions. * PAH-PAA films exhibited significant changes in dissipation values. * PEMs did not show multilayer stability against NaOCl solution. * [(PAH-PSS).sub.5] film was stable and had swelling/de-swelling capability against methanol. KEYWORDS Layer-by-Layer, polyelectrolytes, QCM-D, salt solutions, stability, 1 | INTRODUCTION Over the years, various techniques have been employed to process thin films, (1,2) including physical deposition techniques and polymer-based methods. Layer-by-Layer (LbL) approach has attracted considerable interest [...]

The debate on the exchange rate--oil price nexus usually rests on the fact that oil price is quoted in US dollar (USD) and therefore, fluctuations in oil price may affect the exchange rate behavior of trading nations through the USD. However, it might be inaccurate to generalize the dynamic of the nexus for both net oil-exporting and net oil-importing economies particularly when exchange rates in these economies are running under floating regime. As a result, we revisit the dynamics of returns and volatility spillovers between exchange rates and oil prices in the turbulent period of COVID-19 from the perspective of the oil-exporting/oil-importing dichotomy, using the cases of Nigeria and South Africa. According to the results of the various pre-estimation tests, we find the VARMA-DCC-GARCH model to be the best fit for modelling the interdependence of exchange rates and oil prices in the investigated economies. Empirically, \we show that regardless of the oil-exporting or oil-importing peculiarity of an economy, unanticipated events in exchange rates and oil prices in the current period have the potential to fuel volatility in their returns in the preceding period. Also, not only is the magnitude and direction of the spillovers different under the different waves of COVID-19 but also sensitive to whether an economy is oil-exporting or oil-importing. Thus, while South Africa and Nigeria are among the top 5 African countries with the highest incidences of COVID-19, the permanency or transitory dynamics of the shocks to exchange rates and oil prices during the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be sensitive to whether an economy is oil-exporting or oil-importing. It is in view of this, among other things, that we herein infer that while the immediate policy response to an exogenous shock such as COVID-19 may be global and general for all countries, as is the case with the lockdown initiative, the long-run efforts at recovering from the shock may require that the peculiarities of the individual economies be taken into consideration, as is obvious from the findings of this study. JEL Classifications: F31; O55; Q41 Keywords: Exchange rates; Oil prices; COVID-19; Nigeria; South Africa, INTRODUCTION Since the emerging of the theoretical paper pioneered by Krugman (1983) and Golub (1983), the debate on the exchange rate--oil price nexus usually rests on the fact that oil [...]

Site contamination poses a grave danger to the environmental quality and human health, and its remediation has been a focus of worldwide concern over the last few decades. Based on 5068 bibliographic data (2001-2022) acquired from the Web of Science Core Collection, this study employed a scientometric analysis approach to analyze the present state and investigate the trends of contaminated site remediation studies. The results of this study provide an in-depth response to the following: (1) publication characteristics of polluted site restoration studies; (2) basic information on countries, institutions, journals, and disciplines engaged in remediation research in contaminated areas; and (3) a summary of development trends and hotspots in poisoned field cleanup investigations. In summary, this study assessed the results of research on contaminated site remediation. Those unfamiliar with contaminated site remediation could utilize the information in this study to rapidly merge into the field and grasp the forefront of research on this subject. This article can be regarded as a reference for scholars who desire to conduct further research on relevant subjects. Key words: contaminated site remediation, bibliometric analysis, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bioremediation, 1. Introduction Over the last few decades, site contamination has become the focus of environmental pollution management owing to global industrialization, urbanization, and modernization (Song et al. 2019). Contamination of [...]

It is critical to find efficient non-invasive prognostic factor for osteosarcoma. In this study, we demonstrated that serum protein of pro-surfactant protein B (pro-SFTPB) may be a potential diagnostic indicator in osteosarcoma. We found that serum pro-SFTPB was highly expressed in osteosarcoma patients and presented good diagnostic value to discern osteosarcoma patients from non-osteosarcoma control subjects. Serum pro-SFTPB was also significantly correlated with advanced clinical stage, distant metastasis, and shorter overall survival. In addition, serum pro-SFTPB was demonstrated to be an independent prognostic factor for osteosarcoma. Overall, our study demonstrated that serum pro-SFTPB may be a useful diagnostic factor for osteosarcoma. Key words: osteosarcoma, pro-SFTPB diagnosis, survival, prognosis, Introduction Osteosarcoma is one type of bone cancers that mostly occur in young people, including children and adolescents (Jafari et al. 2020; Sadykova et al. 2020). Osteosarcoma has a high [...]

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are more at risk for academic underachievement compared to their typically developing peers. Understanding their greatest strengths and challenges at school, and how these can be supported, is vital in order to develop focused classroom interventions. Ten primary school pupils with ADHD (aged 6-11 years) and their teachers (N = 6) took part in semi-structured interviews that focused on (1) ADHD knowledge, (2) the child's strengths and challenges at school, and (3) strategies in place to support challenges. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts and three key themes were identified; classroom-general versus individual-specific strategies, heterogeneity of strategies, and the role of peers. Implications relating to educational practice and future research are discussed., Author(s): Emily McDougal [sup.1] [sup.3] , Claire Tai [sup.1] , Tracy M. Stewart [sup.2] , Josephine N. Booth [sup.2] , Sinéad M. Rhodes [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.4305.2, 0000 0004 [...]

Adolescents with problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) have been demonstrated to experience more cognitive failures than healthy controls. To help them better cope with surroundings and improve the quality of life, the present study aimed to discover how PMPU was associated with cognitive failures and if there was any protective factor acting as a buffer in this effect. Emotional distress and coping style are thought to be linked in this association. Thus, this study examined the mediating role of emotional distress and the moderating role of coping style using self-reported questionnaires in a sample of 953 high school and undergraduate students. The results indicated that emotional distress partially mediated the association between PMPU and cognitive failures. In addition, although coping style didn't moderate the direct association between PMPU and cognitive failures, it moderated the two stages of the mediation process. In other words, adolescents with positive coping style could successfully attenuate the adverse effects of PMPU on emotional distress, which in turn had weaker association with cognitive failures. Our study advanced a better understanding of the negative consequences induced by PMPU and suggested effective coping might be a crucial intervention target to prevent further deterioration of emotional distress and cognitive function for PMPU adolescents., Author(s): Zhaocai Jiang [sup.1] [sup.2] , Jin Liu [sup.1] [sup.2] , Yue Zhao [sup.1] [sup.2] , Chengcheng Lv [sup.1] [sup.2] , Lili Zhu [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.443651.1, 0000 [...]

Although research has made progress in searching for an integrative factor structure of career indecision in Western cultural contexts, such an integrative structure of career indecision remains understudied in East Asia. To search for a culturally appropriate integrative factor model of career indecision in China and South Korea, the current study used a data-driven approach to summarize correlational data of indecision-related constructs in China and South Korea. Based on 16 and 21 correlational matrices in China and South Korea, respectively, results suggested that a five-factor structure (i.e., neuroticism/negative affectivity, need for information, choice/commitment anxiety, lack of readiness, and interpersonal conflicts) can adequately and parsimoniously capture major indecision factors in these two countries. By offering a universal framework of career indecision in China and South Korea, the integrative model shows potential to accelerate knowledge accumulation regarding career indecision in this cultural context. Notably, this study suggests that need for information and choice/commitment function as separate factors in China and South Korea, while neuroticism/negative affectivity, lack of readiness, and interpersonal conflicts are culturally universal across Eastern and Western cultural contexts. Thus, this study has potential to enable cross-cultural comparison and accumulation of indecision research in these two cultural contexts., Author(s): Hui Xu [sup.1] , Jeong-Eun Suh [sup.1] , Huabing Liu [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.164971.c, 0000 0001 1089 6558, Counseling Psychology, School of Education, Loyola University Chicago, , [...]

This study investigated the unique impacts of emotional abuse and neglect on loneliness. Further, it explored the moderating effect of peer acceptance in these associations among Chinese rural left-behind adolescents with non-left-behind adolescents from the same rural areas as a comparison group. A total of 914 rural adolescents (M.sub.age = 13.71 years, SD = 0.90) participated in the study. Participants completed self-report measures of emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and loneliness. Classroom-based peer nominations were used to assess participants' peer acceptance. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to test the independent and interactive associations linking emotional abuse/neglect and peer acceptance with loneliness. The results showed that left-behind adolescents experienced higher levels of emotional neglect than non-left-behind adolescents. Emotional neglect was more strongly associated with adolescents' loneliness than emotional abuse. The associations between emotional neglect and loneliness were stronger for left-behind adolescents than non-left-behind adolescents. In addition, peer acceptance moderated the association between emotional abuse and loneliness among left-behind adolescents. Gender differences were found in the link between peer acceptance to loneliness among non-left-behind adolescents. Implications of these findings for future research and the development of interventions are discussed., Author(s): Qian Wang [sup.1] [sup.2] , Jingxin Zhao [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.410585.d, 0000 0001 0495 1805, Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, , No. 88 East Wenhua Road, 250014, [...]

Abstract The focus on fillers' influence in high-performance polymer composites has undergone a transformation. Additionally, the utilization of additive manufacturing (AM) in this venture has aroused the curiosity of investigators [...]

Abstract Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was once the most widely used clinical hip prosthesis-bearing component due to its exceptional mechanical qualities and biocompatibility. However, the poor wear resistance of [...]

Background: Human navigation of social interactions relies on the processing of emotion on faces. This meta-analysis aimed to produce an updated brain atlas of emotional face processing from whole-brain studies based on a single emotional face-viewing paradigm (PROSPERO CRD42022251548). Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search of Embase, MEDLINE and PsycINFO from May 2008 to October 2021. We used seed-based d mapping with permutation of subject images to conduct a quantitative meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging contrasts between emotional (e.g., angry, happy) and neutral faces. We conducted agglomerative hierarchical clustering of meta- analytic map contrasts of emotional faces relative to neutral faces. We investigated lateralization of emotional face processing. Results: From 5549 studies identified, 55 data sets (1489 healthy participants) met our inclusion criteria. Relative to neutral faces, we found extensive activation clusters by fearful faces in the right inferior temporal gyrus, right fusiform area, left putamen and amygdala, right parahippocampalgyrus and cerebellum; we found smaller activation clusters by angry faces in the right cerebellum and right middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and by disgusted faces in the left MTG. Happy and sad faces did not reach statistical significance. Clustering analyses showed similar activation patterns of fearful and angry faces; activation patterns of happy and sad faces showed the least correlation with other emotional faces. Emotional face processing was predominantly left-lateralized in the amygdala and anterior insula, and right-lateralized in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Limitations: Reliance on discretized effect sizes based on peak coordinate location instead of statistical brain maps, and the varying level of statistical threshold reporting from original studies, could lead to underdetection of smaller clusters of activation. Conclusion: Processing of emotional faces appeared to be oriented toward identifying threats on faces, from highest (i.e., angry or fearful faces) to lowest level (i.e., happy or sad faces), with a more complex lateralization pattern than previously theorized. Emotional faces may be processed in latent grouping but organized by threat content rather than emotional valence., Introduction Human beings are a socially complex species. (1) Our ability to navigate social interactions is dependent, in part, on the effective processing of emotions on faces. Such processing allows [...]

The variation of unfrozen water content (UWC) has a significant influence on the physical and mechanical behaviors of frozen soils. Several empirical, semi-empirical, physical, and theoretical models are available in the literature to estimate the UWC in frozen soils. However, these models have limitations due to the complex interactions of various influencing factors that are not well understood or fully established. For this reason, in the present study, an artificial neural network (ANN) modeling framework is proposed and the PyTorch package is used for predicting UWC. Extensive UWC data of various types of soils tested under various conditions were collected through an extensive search of the literature. The developed ANN model showed good performance for the testing dataset. Its performance was further compared with two traditional statistical models on four soils and found to outperform these traditional models. Detailed discussions on the developed ANN model, and its strengths and limitations in comparison to different other models are provided. The study demonstrates that the proposed ANN model is simple yet reliable for estimating the UWC of various soils. In addition, the summarized UWC data and the proposed machine learning modeling framework are valuable for future studies related to frozen soils. Key words: frozen soils, unfrozen water, artificial neural network, modeling framework, prediction, 1. Introduction The freezing of water to form ice is one of the most common phase transformations in the natural environment (Wettlaufer 1999). Nearly one-third of the land surface of [...]

Cannabis saliva L. is one of the oldest cultivated crops, used for its fiher and medicinal properties. The cannabis plant synthesizes a myriad of secondary metabolites, but the most valuable products from a medical and commercial standpoint are cannabinoids. Despite significant advances in elucidating the biochemistry and genetics that govern cannabinoid accumulation, we still do not have conclusive evidence for the role of these secondary metabolites in the physiology of C. saliva. In line with known functions of other secondary metabolites, the protective functions of cannabinoids against temperature stress, poor micronutrient soil content, drought, ultraviolet B radiation, and as antimicrobial agents have been suggested, but are yet to be conclusively demonstrated. Recent research suggests that the environment has a major effect on cannabis growth and productivity, but the relationship between stress, cannabinoid accumulation, and plant health is complex. Here, we summarize the current insights on how abiotic and biotic stresses affect C. saliva biology. We also examine the available evidence to support the hypothesis for the protective function of cannabinoids against environmental stressors. Maintaining optimal growth and high cannabinoid synthesis is a balancing act, one that can only be achieved by better understanding of the effects of the environment on the cannabis plant. Key words: Cannabis, cannabinoids, secondary metabolites, abiotic stress, biotic stress, Introduction Cannabis saliva L. is an annual dioecious herb native to Central and South Asia, and considered one of the oldest domesticated plants. Genomic evidence suggests that cannabis has already [...]