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This study investigates how destination social responsibility (DSR) improves resident quality of life (QOL) through the lenses of signaling theory and emotional solidarity theory. The study demonstrates the mediating role of resident emotional solidarity toward the destination and the moderating roles of disclosure tone and visual messages. Three experiments indicate that continuous (vs. one-time) DSR positively affects resident emotional solidarity and QOL, whereas emotional solidarity has a mediating role. Emotional solidarity elicited by continuous (vs. one-time) DSR is significantly higher when the disclosure tone of DSR is vivid (vs. pallid). However, when DSR is disclosed using visual messages, emotional solidarity effects of DSR types are not different in vivid tone but have significant differences in pallid tone. This study expands the application of signaling theory and emotional solidarity theory to resident QOL studies and provides suggestions on improving residents' QOL through DSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although past years have witnessed tremendous promises of cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (CsPbX3 NCs), realization of high performance devices based on CsPbX3 NCs with sufficient reliability is still seriously hampered due to their instability. The representative consequence of instability in CsPbX3 NCs is merging occurring under air conditions. When the CsPbX3 NCs are exposed to air, their bright photoluminescence is rapidly diminished because charge carrier radiative recombination is hindered in enlarged domains. Because CsPbX3 NCs merge along a specific direction (surface), merging-free CsPbX3 NCs can be synthesized by controlling the surface chemistry. In this study, we developed an effective post-synthetic strategy to completely redesign the surface of CsPbX3 NCs. The post-synthetically modified surfaces of CsPbX3 NCs after treatment with oleylammonium halides exhibited significantly enhanced stability, whose morphology showed nearly no evidence of merging in air. Electron microscopy and quantitative spectroscopy studies revealed that controllable atomic layer etching, which results in the removal of the merging-vulnerable (110) surface, occurs on the surface of CsPbX3 NCs by our post-synthetic treatment with oleylammonium halides. Finally, we proposed a mechanism derived from our effective post-synthetic chemistry, thus realizing high stability of CsPbX3 NCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The junctional epithelium (JE) has been recognized as a defensive organ rich in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). However, the migration of PMNs through the JE has not been clearly documented. For mucosal defense, PMNs migrate outwards over the epithelium to defend the intestinal or respiratory tract on the epithelial surface. With this background, the present study investigated whether there is any structural evidence showing the transepithelial migration of PMNs through the JE in gingival mucosa. Methods: Three‐dimensional modeling of gingiva surrounding mouse molars at varying ages was performed by array tomography. Images of the serial sections for array tomography at the 800 nm thickness were obtained using back scattered electron (BSE) detector equipped in the field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Expressions of neutrophil marker or CD47 were immunohistochemically examined on the frozen sections. Results: Array tomography using FESEM and 3‐dimensional modeling clearly showed that a system of epithelial channels developed between keratinocytes and generally ran along the long axis of the JE. Most PMNs were found inside the channels, rather than being scattered throughout the JE. The channels could be traced from the base of the JE to the bottom of the gingival sulcus, although some channels were fragmented and interrupted with short intercellular gaps. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the JE may be an organ for transepithelial migration of PMNs to the bottom of the gingival sulcus through epithelial channels, as occurs in the epithelial lining of other organs such as the intestinal or respiratory tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decade has seen a dramatic surge in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of next‐generation solution‐processed thin‐film solar cells rapidly closing the gap in PCE of commercially‐available photovoltaic (PV) cells. Yet the operational stability of such new PVs leaves a lot to be desired. Specifically, chemical reaction with absorbers via high‐energy photons transmitted through the typically‐adapted metal oxide electron transporting layers (ETLs), and photocatalytic degradation at interfaces are considered detrimental to the device performance. Herein, the authors introduce a device architecture using the narrow‐gap, Indium Arsenide colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) with discrete electronic states as an ETL in high‐efficiency solution‐processed PVs. High‐performing PM6:Y6 organic PVs (OPVs) achieve a PCE of 15.1%. More importantly, as the operating stability of the device is significantly improved, retaining above 80% of the original PCE over 1000 min under continuous illumination, a Newport‐certified PCE of 13.1% is reported for nonencapsulated OPVs measured under ambient air. Based on operando studies as well as optical simulations, it suggested that the InAs CQD ETLs with discrete energy states effectively cut‐off high‐energy photons while selectively collecting electrons from the absorber. The findings of this works enable high‐efficiency solution‐processed PVs with enhanced durability under operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous evidence suggests a potential dual impact of aging and vitamin B6 (B6) deficiency on polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism; gender may influence PUFA biosynthesis. Perturbation of PUFA compositions during B6 deficiency could be linked to age-related health outcomes. However, little is known about the interrelationships between vitamin B6, PUFA, and gender in the older population. Therefore, we investigated whether gender-specific associations of B6 intake and plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) concentration, respectively, with plasma PUFA concentrations and ratios (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid (AA), EPA + DHA, EPA/AA, and (EPA + DHA)/AA) existed in older adults. We further examined the relationships of adequate B6 status (PLP ≥ 20 nmol/L) with high (above median) plasma PUFA relative to deficient B6 status. This cross-sectional study analyzed 461 participants aged ≥60 years from NHANES 2003–2004. Nutrient intakes were assessed using two 24-h recalls and supplement questionnaires. PLP and PUFA concentrations were measured. Multivariate linear regression assessed the association of B6 intake and PLP with PUFA; multivariate logistic regression evaluated the relationship of adequate B6 status with high plasma PUFA, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and dietary factors; physical activity; smoking; alcohol; medication; and BMI. There were interactions between gender and B6 intake on EPA (P-interaction = 0.008) and AA (P-interaction = 0.004) only, whereas no interaction existed between gender and PLP on PUFA. PLP was directly associated with EPA (β = 0.181, P = 0.002), DHA (β = 0.109, P = 0.005), EPA + DHA (β = 0.14, P = 0.002), EPA/AA (β = 0.186, P = 0.004), and (EPA + DHA)/AA (β = 0.13, P = 0.026). The odds of having high plasma EPA (adjusted (a) OR: 2.03, P = 0.049) and EPA/AA (aOR: 3.83, P < 0.0001) were greater in those with adequate B6 status compared to those with deficient B6 status. In conclusion, in US older adults, a higher PLP level was associated with a greater level of EPA, DHA, EPA + DHA, EPA/AA, and (EPA + DHA)/AA. Adequate B6 status was associated with high EPA and EPA/AA status. These findings suggest that sufficient vitamin B6 status may positively influence PUFA metabolism in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) facilitated activation of TiO2 has noteworthy potential for solar energy harvesting. However, the fast back electron transfer from TiO2 to an oxidized sensitizer is a key limiting factor causing low photocatalyst efficiency. Herein, a new catalyst design to both increase LMCT efficiency and minimize the back electron transfer is presented. A phase‐selective modification of mixed‐phase TiO2 (anatase: rutile interface) with poly‐salophen organic polymer is developed. The salophen and salen family organic monomers are selectively bound and polymerized on the anatase phase but not the rutile phase, which results in the formation of a three‐phase system. Such a three‐phase system converts an unfavorable polymer TiO2 core‐shell structure to an intimately mixed blend morphology, consisting of interfaced crystalline rutile TiO2 and an amorphous polymer‐covered anatase‐phase TiO2. The developed mixed‐blend morphology poly‐S@P25 can produce H2 of 37 410 µmol h–1 g–1 of polymer, which is ≈3.4 times higher than core‐shell poly‐S@anatase TiO2. This approach overcomes the drawback of the traditional core‐shell structured system for efficient electron harvesting from the LMCT process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the development of Web 2.0 and social networks, analyzing consumers' responses and opinions in real-time became profoundly important to gain business insights. This study aims to identify consumers' preferences and perceptions of genderless fashion trends by text-mining, Latent Dirichlet Allocation-based topic modeling, and time-series linear regression analysis. Unstructured text data from consumer-posted sources, such as blogs and online communities, were collected from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020. We examined 9722 posts that included the keyword "genderless fashion" with Python 3.7 software. Results showed that consumers were interested in fragrances, fashion, and beauty brands and products. In particular, 18 topics were extracted: 13 were classified as fashion categories and 5 were derived from beauty and fragrance sectors. Examining the genderless fashion trend development among consumers from 2018 to 2020, "perfume and scent" was revealed as the hot topic, whereas "bags," "all-in-one skin care," and "set-up suit" were cold topics, declining in popularity among consumers. The findings contribute to contemporary fashion trends and provide in-depth knowledge about consumers' perceptions using big data analysis methods and offer insights into product development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural resource development, both extractive (oil, gas, mining, and timber) and non‐extractive (tourism, real estate, outdoor recreation), has been found to negatively impact economic prosperity in rural America. One mechanism recently proposed for why this occurs is high levels of labor market concentration, or oligopsony. Oligopsony occurs when there are few employers within a labor market and can lead to suppressed wages and a power imbalance between employers and workers. In this paper, we test the moderating effect of labor market concentration on the relationship between natural resource development and per capita income and poverty in rural America from 2010 to 2016. By comparing results between extractive and non‐extractive development, as well as manufacturing, we show that labor market concentration attenuates the beneficial relationship observed at low levels of specialization in natural resources—particularly for extractive forms of development. Further, by finding no significant relationship between manufacturing specialization and economic prosperity, nor any moderating effect of labor market concentration in the case of manufacturing, we demonstrate that natural resource development and labor market concentration have a unique relationship with rural American economic prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American youth from rural backgrounds have made great strides to overcome challenges in college enrollment and completion since the 2000s. Yet little is known about how rural youth are financing these attainment increases—a pressing question in light of high college costs, rising student debt, and spatial inequality in the resources that students have to pay for college. This paper examines disparities in young adults' student debt by geographic background using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 Cohort. Regression analyses reveal that college‐goers from rural backgrounds accumulate more debt than those from suburban and urban backgrounds, adjusting for differences in sociodemographic characteristics. Rural college‐goers' higher debt can be partially attributed to differences in socioeconomic backgrounds and rates of inter‐county migration during college, and there is evidence that the additive influences of geographic background and gender contribute to particularly high debt among rural women. The findings suggest that longstanding spatial inequalities contribute to disparities in student debt and raise questions about the experiences of rural youth and communities in a debt‐based society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use panel data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) to document the changing volume and rate of intercounty migration among the poor. We evaluate whether the exchange of migrants between metro and nonmetro counties has exacerbated spatial disparities in poverty and whether some nonmetro counties have become "collecting grounds" for America's poor. The PSID highlights exceptionally high rates of intercounty migration among the nonmetro population, but especially among the poor. The results show that rural poor migrants circulate among nonmetro counties, often from one poor county to an even poorer one. This circulation of poor rural migrants has exacerbated the concentration of poverty in the most economically disadvantaged nonmetro counties. Concentrated poverty also is exacerbated by the migration of the "best and brightest" from nonmetro‐to‐metro counties, which also is associated with upward residential attainment (to counties with lower poverty rates). Significantly, metro‐to‐nonmetro migration is both selective of the poor and strongly associated with downward residential mobility to poorer nonmetro counties. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that poor nonmetro counties have become collecting grounds for America's poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monetary sanctions are a ubiquitous part of court systems. Previous studies have focused largely on these sanctions at the state level or solely on large urban jurisdictions. However, court systems differ considerably across communities of varying population size, composition, and density. This article examines how differences in court structure and organizational dynamics in communities across the rural-urban continuum lead to differences in how court actors consider the role of monetary sanctions. Using interviews with court actors and ethnographic observations in communities across four states, we find that the practical and symbolic nature of monetary sanctions varied by the acquaintanceship density of the court and community. These interpersonal dynamics influenced courtroom considerations, monetary sanctions' relationship to local finances, and actors' positioning toward state-level policy. These findings emphasize the importance of court and community context and structure in assessing the law-in-action both when conducting research and designing reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant activation of the non-receptor kinase c-Abl is implicated in the development of pathogenic hallmarks of Parkinson's disease, such as α-synuclein aggregation and progressive neuronal loss. c-Abl-mediated phosphorylation and inhibition of parkin ligase function lead to accumulation of parkin interacting substrate (PARIS) that mediates α-synuclein pathology-initiated dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Here we show that, in addition to PARIS accumulation, c-Abl phosphorylation of PARIS is required for PARIS-induced cytotoxicity. c-Abl-mediated phosphorylation of PARIS at Y137 (within the Krüppel-associated box domain) drives its association with KAP1 and the repression of genes with diverse functions in pathways such as chromatin remodelling and p53-dependent cell death. One phosphorylation-dependent PARIS target, MDM4 (a p53 inhibitor that associates with MDM2; also known as MDMX), is transcriptionally repressed in a histone deacetylase-dependent manner via PARIS binding to insulin response sequence motifs within the MDM4 promoter. Virally induced PARIS transgenic mice develop c-Abl activity-dependent Parkinson's disease features such as motor deficits, dopaminergic neuron loss and neuroinflammation. PARIS expression in the midbrain resulted in c-Abl activation, PARIS phosphorylation, MDM4 repression and p53 activation, all of which are blocked by the c-Abl inhibitor nilotinib. Importantly, we also observed aberrant c-Abl activation and PARIS phosphorylation along with PARIS accumulation in the midbrain of adult parkin knockout mice, implicating c-Abl in recessive Parkinson's disease. Inhibition of c-Abl or PARIS phosphorylation by nilotinib or Y137F-PARIS expression in adult parkin knockout mice blocked MDM4 repression and p53 activation, preventing motor deficits and dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Finally, we found correlative increases in PARIS phosphorylation, MDM4 repression and p53 activation in post-mortem Parkinson's disease brains, pointing to clinical relevance of the c-Abl-PARIS-MDM4-p53 pathway. Taken together, our results describe a novel mechanism of epigenetic regulation of dopaminergic degeneration downstream of pathological c-Abl activation in Parkinson's disease. Since c-Abl activation has been shown in sporadic Parkinson's disease, PARIS phosphorylation might serve as both a useful biomarker and a potential therapeutic target to regulate neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family structure remains a dominant explanation for understanding racial inequality in poverty. Yet, empirical studies show family structure does not fully account for this association. We present racial stratification as an alternative perspective emphasizing the social construction of race and how race contributes to the unequal distribution of resources. To illustrate the link between racial stratification and poverty, we rely on risk research and conceptualize risk in terms of prevalences (the percentage of people with risks) and penalties (the probability of poverty associated with risks). We assess whether family structure and risks intersect by racialized groups, and if so, whether the penalties for risks among Black and Latinx mothers, relative to white mothers, converge (i.e. smaller gap in penalties) or diverge (i.e. larger gap in penalties). Using panel data, our results revealed Black mothers had higher risk prevalence than both Latinx and white mothers. Moreover, a dramatic divergence in the penalties for risks emerged between racialized groups whereby Black and Latinx mothers experience greater disadvantage from risks than white mothers, regardless of family structure. We conclude family structure is not only an oversimplified explanation but also contributes to obscuring structural and systemic sources of racial inequality in poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently perovskites-based inorganic compounds have been researched incredibly for their photocatalytic applications. In this work, rubidium tin chloride [Rb2SnCl6] and caesium-incorporated rubidium [(RbXCs1-X)2SnCl6]-defect perovskites were synthesized for photocatalytic applications. This material is very useful for the degradation of dyes under UV irradiation among other photocatalysts, because of its superior properties such as nontoxicity, low cost, simple preparation methods and long-term thermal stability. The crystal structure, morphology and elemental composition of synthesized defect perovskite materials have been analysed using XRD, FESEM and EDAX mapping analysis. The UV studies reveal that the band-gap values were tuned (from 2.71 eV in Rb2SnCl6 to 3.78 eV in (Rb0.5Cs0.5)2SnCl6), resulting in a blue shift of the PL emission peak (from 458 to 328 nm) due to the incorporation of caesium in rubidium site. The thermal stability of (Rb0.5Cs0.5)2SnCl6 is enhanced over other synthesized defect perovskite materials because 76% of samples remained at the highest temperature of 750 °C. Synthesized defect perovskite materials were used in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye under UV light radiation. Furthermore, an excellent photocatalytic degradation is observed for (Rb0.5Cs0.5)2SnCl6 (78% to 85%) compared to other defect perovskite materials even after 120 min irradiation. The increase in photocatalytic efficiency of (Rb0.5Cs0.5)2SnCl6 is due to strong absorption of light, large separation of electron–holes pairs and the size of the nanoparticles. Also, the radical trapping experiment showed that the super oxide radicals (.O2−) and photo-generated holes (h+) were the predominant active species in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye process. This study concludes that the defect perovskites are the potential materials for photocatalytic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, which also serves as the introduction for this special guest‐edited issue, examines the history of Rural Sociology's scholarly engagement with rurality, race, and ethnicity. We examine the historical patterns of how Rural Sociology has addressed race and ethnicity, and then present results from a meta‐analysis of empirical articles published between 1971 and 2020. Over time, the methodological approaches and scholarly focus of articles on race and ethnicity within Rural Sociology has gradually expanded to include more analyses of power and inequality using constructivist perspectives, and greater numbers of qualitative inquiries into the lived experiences of both white and nonwhite people. The articles featured in the special issue extend from Rural Sociology's growing attention to race and ethnicity. Together, they suggest the ways in which rural spaces are racially coded, how intersections with race and ethnicity exacerbate rural inequality, how the domination of people and the environment are co‐constituted, and how practices of racism are embedded within contextually specific ecologies. In drawing attention to these contributions, we suggest future directions for the discipline's engagement with rurality, race, and ethnicity, while simultaneously suggesting the ways in which our own disciplinary racial reckoning remains incomplete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Destination: PARIS Inactivating Parkin mutations lead to parkin-interacting substrate (PARIS) accumulation and subsequent neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Inhibiting PARIS accumulation might have therapeutic effect. Here, Jo et al. tested this hypothesis in preclinical PD models. The authors showed that farnesol inhibited PARIS by promoting its farnesylation. In vivo, in multiple rodent PD models, farnesol reduced histological and behavioral abnormalities, and PARIS farnesylation was reduced in brain samples from patients with PD, suggesting that promoting PARIS farnesylation might have therapeutic effects in PD. Accumulation of the parkin-interacting substrate (PARIS; ZNF746), due to inactivation of parkin, contributes to Parkinson's disease (PD) through repression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α; PPARGC1A) activity. Here, we identify farnesol as an inhibitor of PARIS. Farnesol promoted the farnesylation of PARIS, preventing its repression of PGC-1α via decreasing PARIS occupancy on the PPARGC1A promoter. Farnesol prevented dopaminergic neuronal loss and behavioral deficits via farnesylation of PARIS in PARIS transgenic mice, ventral midbrain transduction of AAV-PARIS, adult conditional parkin KO mice, and the α-synuclein preformed fibril model of sporadic PD. PARIS farnesylation is decreased in the substantia nigra of patients with PD, suggesting that reduced farnesylation of PARIS may play a role in PD. Thus, farnesol may be beneficial in the treatment of PD by enhancing the farnesylation of PARIS and restoring PGC-1α activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the electrical and stability characteristics of Al2O3 as a gate insulator, which was deposited by various atomic layer deposition methods in top-gate staggered amorphous InGaZnO (a-IGZO) thin film transistors. A trimethylaluminum precursor was used as an Al source, and H2O gas (H2O device) and O2 plasma with a long plasma time (O2 LP device) and a short plasma time (O2 SP device) were used as oxidants. The initial electrical characteristics, including the hysteresis, on–off current ratio, and subthreshold swing, were superior in the H2O device compared to the O2 LP and O2 SP devices. In the positive bias stress (PBS) results, the degradation characteristics showed a tendency similar to the transfer properties. However, under the negative bias illumination stress (NBIS), the stability of the H2O device was significantly reduced compared to the O2 LP and O2 SP devices. In this paper, the mechanism of instability, which has opposite results in terms of the PBS and NBIS for the three devices, was identified using capacitance–voltage, three-terminal charge pumping as electrical analysis techniques and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) as a physical analysis technique. It was confirmed that the surface oxidation of a-IGZO deteriorates the interfacial properties, causing the transfer characteristics to degrade. The carbon of the Al2O3 film identified via SIMS analysis acts as a trap layer, causing deterioration in the PBS. Alternatively, in the NBIS, it was observed that the carbon acts as a capture site for photo-excited holes, thereby promoting device stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The microbiota of the lower respiratory tract in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) has not been fully evaluated. We explored the role of the lung microbiota in NTM-PD by analyzing protected specimen brushing (PSB) and bronchial washing samples from patients with NTM-PD obtained using a flexible bronchoscope. Results: Bronchial washing and PSB samples from the NTM-PD group tended to have fewer OTUs and lower Chao1 richness values compared with those from the control group. In both bronchial washing and PSB samples, beta diversity was significantly lower in the NTM-PD group than in the control group (P = 2.25E-6 and P = 4.13E-4, respectively). Principal component analysis showed that the PSBs and bronchial washings exhibited similar patterns within each group but differed between the two groups. The volcano plots indicated differences in several phyla and genera between the two groups. Conclusions: The lower respiratory tract of patients with NTM-PD has a unique microbiota distribution that is low in richness/diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the dependence of threshold voltage (Vth) changes to amorphous-indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin film transistors (TFTs) under positive bias light illumination (PBIS) on the height of the conduction band offset was studied. Using SiO2, HfO2, and Al2O3 as gate dielectrics, three different types of a-IGZO TFTs were used in the experiment. Electrical parameters and the density of states of each TFT were measured. Of the devices studied, the interface characteristics between the a-IGZO and the gate dielectric were the best using SiO2 and the worst using Al2O3. HfO2 had the smallest conduction band offsets (CBO) of 2.26 eV. We also performed PBS and PBIS evaluation to confirm the stability of TFTs. The Vth shift in the three samples was insignificant under PBS, but the Vth shifts occurred under PBIS in the order of HfO2, Al2O3, and SiO2. The interfacial characteristics of a-IGZO and the dielectric did not change after PBIS in all three devices; the lower the CBO height, the greater the Vth shift after PBIS. The predominant cause of the Vth shift under PBIS is the accumulation of injected photoelectrons that have sufficient energy to tunnel the CBO barrier into the gate dielectric by positive gate bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preserving neurons in Parkinson's disease: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain that leads to the loss of motor control and subsequently cognitive defects. Kim et al. found that activating the kinase Akt1, such as with the polyphenol chlorogenic acid found in coffee, prevented both neuronal cell death and motor and cognitive impairments in two mouse models of PD. By transcriptionally activating the CREB gene target RNF146, Akt1 inhibited PARP1-dependent cell death in mouse and human neuronal cultures. The clinical relevance of this mechanism was supported by correlative data from postmortem patient brain tissue. Progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons characterizes Parkinson's disease (PD). This neuronal loss occurs through diverse mechanisms, including a form of programmed cell death dependent on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) called parthanatos. Deficient activity of the kinase Akt1 and aggregation of the protein α-synuclein are also implicated in disease pathogenesis. Here, we found that Akt1 suppressed parthanatos in dopaminergic neurons through a transcriptional mechanism. Overexpressing constitutively active Akt1 in SH-SY5Y cells or culturing cells with chlorogenic acid (a polyphenol found in coffee that activates Akt1) stimulated the CREB-dependent transcriptional activation of the gene encoding the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF146. RNF146 inhibited PARP1 not through its E3 ligase function but rather by binding to and sequestering PAR, which enhanced the survival of cultured cells exposed to the dopaminergic neuronal toxin 6-OHDA or α-synuclein aggregation. In mice, intraperitoneal administration of chlorogenic acid activated the Akt1-CREB-RNF146 pathway in the brain and provided neuroprotection against both 6-OHDA and combinatorial α-synucleinopathy in an RNF146-dependent manner. Furthermore, dysregulation of the Akt1-CREB pathway was observed in postmortem brain samples from patients with PD. The findings suggest that therapeutic restoration of RNF146 expression, such as by activating the Akt1-CREB pathway, might halt neurodegeneration in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth in macro‐level income inequality in the United States is well established, but less is known about patterns of inequality at subnational scales and how they vary between and within rural and urban localities. Using data from the Decennial Census and American Community Survey, we produce estimates of within‐county income inequality from 1970 to 2016 and analyze differences in inequality levels, the persistence of high (low) inequality, and populations' exposure to high (low) inequality across the rural‐urban continuum. We find that income inequality has historically been higher in non‐metropolitan than metropolitan counties, but inequality levels converged by 2016 due to growing inequality in metropolitan counties. Additionally, levels of inequality were generally persistent within counties over time, except that counties characterized by low inequality in 1970 were unlikely to remain as such in 2016. Third, non‐trivial shares of the metropolitan population resided in low‐inequality contexts in 1970, but virtually none of the U.S. population resided in such places by 2016. Residence in high‐inequality counties is normative in rural and urban America. This statistical analysis provides an updated portrait of income inequality across the rural‐urban continuum, and should spur additional research on stratification in rural America during an era of growing inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unfolding aggregates: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the presence of Lewy bodies (LBs), abnormal protein aggregates in the neurons. In LB, α-synuclein associates with other proteins, including parkin and its substrate aminoacyl tRNA synthetase complex–interacting multifunctional protein-2 (AIMP2). The role of AIMP2 in PD pathophysiology remains unclear. Here, Ham et al. studied the role of AIMP2 in vitro and in vivo and showed that the protein had self-aggregating properties and accelerated the formation of α-synuclein aggregates. In models of α-synucleinopathies, AIMP2 was required for the formation of α-syn aggregates. The results suggest that AIMP2 plays a critical role in LB formation and might be a potential therapeutic target for reducing α-synuclein aggregates. Lewy bodies are pathological protein inclusions present in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). These inclusions consist mainly of α-synuclein with associated proteins, such as parkin and its substrate aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase complex–interacting multifunctional protein-2 (AIMP2). Although AIMP2 has been suggested to be toxic to dopamine neurons, its roles in α-synuclein aggregation and PD pathogenesis are largely unknown. Here, we found that AIMP2 exhibits a self-aggregating property. The AIMP2 aggregate serves as a seed to increase α-synuclein aggregation via specific and direct binding to the α-synuclein monomer. The coexpression of AIMP2 and α-synuclein in cell cultures and in vivo resulted in the rapid formation of α-synuclein aggregates with a corresponding increase in toxicity. Moreover, accumulated AIMP2 in mouse brain was largely redistributed to insoluble fractions, correlating with the α-synuclein pathology. Last, we found that α-synuclein preformed fibril (PFF) seeding, adult Parkin deletion, or oxidative stress triggered a redistribution of both AIMP2 and α-synuclein into insoluble fraction in cells and in vivo. Supporting the pathogenic role of AIMP2, AIMP2 knockdown ameliorated the α-synuclein aggregation and dopaminergic cell death in response to PFF or 6-hydroxydopamine treatment. Together, our results suggest that AIMP2 plays a pathological role in the aggregation of α-synuclein in mice. Because AIMP2 insolubility and coaggregation with α-synuclein have been seen in the PD Lewy body, targeting pathologic AIMP2 aggregation might be useful as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative α-synucleinopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The released NOx during fuel combustion is one of the major air pollutants, directly related to acid rain and photochemical smog. At present, there is not an economical and effective method of inhibiting NOx emission from sintering flue gas. Therefore, controlling the conditions of fuel combustion is extremely required for the reduction in NOx. The current research investigated the effects of different combustion parameters on the formation of NOx for three type of coals. The formation of NOx decreased with increasing temperature and heating rate while it increased when oxygen content in an atmosphere increased. Anthracite coal replacement with coke up to 100 pct promoted a decrease in the formed NOx amount and XNO by 21 and 53 pct, respectively. The addition of CaO and FeO enhanced the conversion of nitrogen to NOx, especially at temperatures below 1273 K (1000 °C). Taking both the oxidation reaction to form NOx and reduction reaction of NOx to form N2 into account, the activation energy (EA) values of anthracite and coke were evaluated to be 2.2 and 3.6 kJ/mol, respectively. The combustion of semi-anthracite coal emitted the largest amount of NOx, but the anthracite coal containing less fuel-N than other coals showed the highest value of XNO, which indicates that nitrogen content in coal is not the major factor affecting the formation of NOx. The change in nitrogen functionality after combustion process might be the reason for the unpredicted results in the XNO. The pyrrolic-N in anthracite coal might be considered to be the major functional form that directly affects the conversion of nitrogen to NO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid increase in the use of optogenetics to investigate the nervous system, there is a high demand for a neural interface that enables 2D mapping of electrophysiological neural signals with high precision during simultaneous light stimulation. Here, a gold nanonetwork (Au NN)‐based transparent neural electrocorticogram (ECoG) monitoring system is proposed as implantable neural electronics. The neural interface enables accurate 2D mapping of ECoG neural signals without any photoelectric artifact during light stimulation. By using the Au NN, not only the transmittance of the microelectrodes is increased by 81% but also a low electrochemical impedance of 33.9 kΩ at 1 kHz with improved mechanical stability is achieved. It is demonstrated that the transparent microelectrode array records multichannel in vivo neural activities with no photoelectric artifact and a high signal‐to‐noise ratio. Propagation of neural dynamics of optically driven neural activities is also clearly visualized using the 2D Au NN microelectrode array. This transparent, flexible ECoG microelectrode array is a promising candidate for next‐generation in vitro and in vivo neural interface for 2D mapping of neural dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High underemployment has been a chronic structural feature of the rural United States for decades. In this paper, we assess whether and how inequalities in underemployment between metropolitan (metro) and nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) areas have changed over the course of the last five decades. Drawing on data from the March Current Population Survey from 1968 to 2017, we analyze inequality in the prevalence of underemployment between metro and nonmetro areas of the United States, paying special attention to differences between white, black, and Hispanic workers. Our results show that the underlying risk of underemployment has increased in both metro and nonmetro areas over the last 50 years. Nonmetro workers have consistently faced greater employment hardship compared to their metro counterparts, and these differences cannot be fully explained by differences in population characteristics. Nonmetro ethnoracial minorities have experienced particularly poor labor market outcomes. The disadvantage of ethnoracial minority status and rural residence is especially pronounced for nonmetro black workers, among whom underemployment has remained persistently high with only modest convergence with other workers. Hispanic workers also face an elevated risk of underemployment, but we observe a unique convergence between metro and nonmetro workers within this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a novel mechanism for the Vth shift of amorphous-indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin film transistors under negative bias illumination stress (NBIS). Three kinds of IGZO TFTs with different gate dielectrics and valence band offsets (VBO) were used in this experiment. Gate dielectric materials used were Al2O3, HfO2 and SiO2. Initial parameters, VBO, and state density (DOS) for each TFT were extracted. After NBIS, the Vth shift was greatest at −3.82 V using a TFT with an HfO2 gate dielectric. VBO was the lowest at 0.38 eV using a TFT with an HfO2 gate dielectric. The smaller the VBO, the larger the generated Vth shift. DOS measurements confirmed the interfacial properties between the gate dielectric and IGZO, and the highest DOS resulted from the interface between Al2O3 and IGZO. Through the experimental results, the correlation between VBO and Δ Vth after NBIS was investigated. We found that the main cause of Vth shift in NBIS is injection of photoinduced hole carriers that cross the VBO by tunneling from IGZO channel to gate oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes poster presentations given at the 7th World Congress of the International Society for Aging and Physical Activity. Miyuki Nemoto and others from Comprehensive Human Sciences in Tsukuba, Japan presented a study on functional fitness in frail older women. The study attempted to determine the characteristics of functional fitness of such women and compared them with nonfrail older adults and support- or care-level older adults. There were significant differences among the three groups in all the functional fitness tests administered.

2D and Quasi-2D Halide Perovskites: Applications and Progress 2D and quasi-2D halide perovskites show a number of advantages for electronic and optoelectronic applications due to their tunable properties and superior stability. In article number 1900435, Quyet Van Le, Ho Won Jang and co-workers review the atomic structures, optical properties, and electrical properties of 2D and quasi-2D halide perovskites compared to their 3D counterparts. [Extracted from the article]

Relatively little is known about what motivates or prevents patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from adopting physically active lifestyles. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of physical activity and to identify the factors affecting a physically active lifestyle among Korean patients with RA. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from a rheumatology outpatient clinic of a university-affiliated hospital in South Korea. The levels of physical activity were self-reported using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Participants who engaged in more than 600 metabolic equivalent task-minutes/week of physical activity and moderate activity or walking at least three times per week were considered physically active in this study. Structured questionnaires were used to assess perceived barriers and self-efficacy for exercise. Of 345 patients with RA included in this study, about 22% of patients were classified as physically active. Factors associated with a physically active lifestyle were good physical function (odds ratio [OR] = 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36–0.87) and high levels of exercise self-efficacy (OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.20–1.54). Common barriers identified were fatigue, interference with other responsibilities, and a lack of time. Participants showed the lowest self-efficacy for exercise when they had pain and were busy with other activities. The level of physical function and exercise self-efficacy were predictors of physical activity. Individualized physical activity programs tailored to personal abilities and barriers and increasing exercise self-efficacy are needed to facilitate engagement of physical activity in Korean patients with RA. Key Points: • Factors associated with a physically active lifestyle were good physical function and high levels of exercise self-efficacy. • The levels of exercise self-efficacy in Korean patients with RA are low compared to those in other populations. • Frequently encountered barriers in the subjects were being too tired, interference with other responsibilities, and lack of time. • Individualized physical activity programs tailored to personal abilities and barriers and increasing exercise self-efficacy are needed to facilitate engagement of physical activity in Korean patients with RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide perovskite based resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) devices are emerging as a new class of revolutionary data storage devices because their switching material―halide perovskite―has received considerable attention in recent years. Among the electrical characteristics of the material, its current–voltage (I–V) hysteresis, which may occur due to defect formation and migration, means that ReRAM can employ halide perovskites as a resistive switching material. Many studies have been conducted on resistive switching materials; however, the investigation of halide perovskites for ReRAM devices is still in the early research stages; therefore, the application of halide perovskites in ReRAM devices is a topic worth studying. Herein, we introduce halide perovskites and their operating mechanism within a ReRAM device. Moreover, recent notable achievements along with future challenges have been reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved efficiency of non-fullerene acceptor-based organic solar cells based on PBDB-T : ITIC-m composites has been obtained by using post-additive soaking (PAS) treatments on pristine BHJ films. The PAS-treated BHJ films show improved carrier dynamics in charge transfer and transport, leading to increased photocurrent and fill factors in the photovoltaic devices, followed by a high power conversion efficiency of 12.3%, which is an increase of 28% compared to that of the control device. We found that this superior performance predominantly resulted from improved exciton dissociation and enhanced electron transport after photoexcitation of the ITIC-m phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of light on InGaZnO (IGZO) thin film transistors were investigated under the AC gate bias illumination stress. DC NBIS on IGZO device results in dramatic negative Vth shifts. Whereas, Vth shift tends to disappear when the specific AC gate stress is applied with light exposure. We found that NBIS effect is released in specific pulse peak bias zone for fixed pulse frequency, base pulse voltage and duty. Hence, if we employ the pulse shape in specific zone, intrinsic reliability concerns over IGZO device particularly with NBIS would not be technical huddle for volume manufacturing production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With the increasing interest and demand for epidermal electronics, a strong interface between a sensor and a biological surface is essential, yet achieving such interface is still a challenge. Here, a calcium (Ca)‐modified biocompatible silk fibroin as a strong adhesive for epidermal electronics is proposed and the physical principles behind its interfacial and adhesive properties are reported. A strong adhesive characteristic (>800 N m−1) is observed because of the increase in both viscoelastic property and mechanical interlocking through the incorporation of Ca ions. Furthermore, additional key characteristics of the Ca‐modified silk: reusability, stretchability, biocompatibility, and conductivity, are reported. These characteristics enable a wide range of applications as demonstrated in four epidermal electronic systems: capacitive touch sensor, resistive strain sensor, hydrogel‐based drug delivery, and electrocardiogram monitoring sensor. As a reusable, biocompatible, conductive, and strong adhesive with water‐degradability, the Ca‐modified silk adhesive is a promising candidate for the next‐generation adhesive for epidermal biomedical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rural sociology first gained wide recognition during the 1930s when the intersection of economic depression and environmental crisis underlined the suffering of rural peoples. The historical conjuncture of growing rural poverty and environmental crisis has reappeared in the twenty‐first century. What does this recurring combination of circumstances portend for rural sociology? Does it imply a revival of the policy‐oriented sociological analyses of the 1930s? A comparative historical analysis of rural sociology during the New Deal, the post−World War II period, and the contemporary era suggests a qualified answer to this question. The contemporary era resembles the 1930s in providing compelling rationales for engaged scholarship, but the cross‐class coalitions between government social scientists and the rural poor that characterized the 1930s have not materialized in the twenty‐first century. Despite this difference, some common themes, such as a growing emphasis on interdisciplinary research, a primary concern with rural poverty, and an increased interest in the distinguishing features of resilient communities, have characterized scholarship during both periods. These similarities suggest that the practice of applied and engaged scholarship, so prevalent in the rural sociology of the 1930s, has found new traction in dealing with the social and ecological problems of twenty‐first‐century rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanistic details of intramembrane aspartyl protease (IAP) chemistry, which is central to many biological and pathogenic processes, remain largely obscure. Here, we investigated the in vitro kinetics of a microbial intramembrane aspartyl protease (mIAP) fortuitously acting on the renin substrate angiotensinogen and the C-terminal transmembrane segment of amyloid precursor protein (C100), which is cleaved by the presenilin subunit of γ-secretase, an Alzheimer disease (AD)-associated IAP. mIAPvariants with substitutions in active-site and putative substrate- gating residues generally exhibit impaired, but not abolished, activity toward angiotensinogen and retain the predominant cleavage site (His-Thr). The aromatic ring, but not the hydroxyl substituent, within Tyr of the catalytic Tyr-Asp (YD) motif plays a catalytic role and the hydrolysis reaction incorporates bulk water as in soluble aspartyl proteases. mIAP hydrolyzes the transmembrane region of C100 at two major presenilin cleavage sites, one corresponding to the AD-associated Aβ42 peptide (Ala-Thr) and the other to the non-pathogenic AMechanistic details of intramembrane aspartyl protease (IAP) chemistry, which is central to many biological and pathogenic processes, remain largely obscure. Here, we investigated the in vitro kinetics of a microbial intramembrane aspartyl protease (mIAP) fortuitously acting on the renin substrate angiotensinogen and the C-terminal transmembrane segment of amyloid precursor protein (C100), which is cleaved by the presenilin subunit of γ-secretase, an Alzheimer disease (AD)-associated IAP. mIAPvariants with substitutions in active-site and putative substrate- gating residues generally exhibit impaired, but not abolished, activity toward angiotensinogen and retain the predominant cleavage site (His-Thr). The aromatic ring, but not the hydroxyl substituent, within Tyr of the catalytic Tyr-Asp (YD) motif plays a catalytic role and the hydrolysis reaction incorporates bulk water as in soluble aspartyl proteases. mIAP hydrolyzes the transmembrane region of C100 at two major presenilin cleavage sites, one corresponding to the AD-associated Aβ42 peptide (Ala-Thr) and the other to the non-pathogenic Aβ48 (Thr-Leu). For the former site, we observed more favorable kinetics in lipid bilayer-mimicking bicelles than in detergent solution, indicating that substrate-lipid and substrate-enzyme interactions both contribute to catalytic rates. High-resolution MS analyses across four substrates support a preference for threonine at the scissile bond. However, results from threoninescanning mutagenesis of angiotensinogen demonstrate a competing positional preference for cleavage. Our results indicate that IAP cleavage is controlled by both positional and chemical factors, opening up new avenues for selective IAP inhibition for therapeutic interventions. (Thr-Leu). For the former site, we observed more favorable kinetics in lipid bilayer-mimicking bicelles than in detergent solution, indicating that substrate-lipid and substrate-enzyme interactions both contribute to catalytic rates. High-resolution MS analyses across four substrates support a preference for threonine at the scissile bond. However, results from threoninescanning mutagenesis of angiotensinogen demonstrate a competing positional preference for cleavage. Our results indicate that IAP cleavage is controlled by both positional and chemical factors, opening up new avenues for selective IAP inhibition for therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article examines changes in concentrated poverty in the rural United States between 2000 and 2012. Using data from the decennial census and American Community Survey, we address three main objectives. First, we document changes in the number and share of counties with poverty rates above 20, 30, and 40 percent, stratifying our sample by metropolitan status. Second, we use exploratory spatial methods to identify geographic patterns in county‐level poverty dynamics between 2000 and 2012. Third, we estimate the share of the population living in high‐poverty counties, and track changes over time and by race and poverty status. Overall, we find a substantial increase in concentrated poverty since 2000. Increases in both the number of high‐poverty counties and the share of the population living in these counties were widespread, though spatially and temporally uneven in some cases. We also observe convergence in concentrated poverty between rural and micropolitan areas, and between non‐Hispanic white and Hispanic populations. Overall, we observe a reversal of the declines in concentrated poverty that occurred in the 1990s, and find that in many cases this trend began prior to the Great Recession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: CsPbX3 (X = halide, Cl, Br, or I) all‐inorganic halide perovskites (IHPs) are regarded as promising functional materials because of their tunable optoelectronic characteristics and superior stability to organic–inorganic hybrid halide perovskites. Herein, nonvolatile resistive switching (RS) memory devices based on all‐inorganic CsPbI3 perovskite are reported. An air‐stable CsPbI3 perovskite film with a thickness of only 200 nm is successfully synthesized on a platinum‐coated silicon substrate using low temperature all‐solution process. The RS memory devices of Ag/polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)/CsPbI3/Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si structure exhibit reproducible and reliable bipolar switching characteristics with an ultralow operating voltage (<+0.2 V), high on/off ratio (>106), reversible RS by pulse voltage operation (pulse duration < 1 ms), and multilevel data storage. The mechanical flexibility of the CsPbI3 perovskite RS memory device on a flexible substrate is also successfully confirmed. With analyzing the influence of phase transition in CsPbI3 on RS characteristics, a mechanism involving conducting filaments formed by metal cation migration is proposed to explain the RS behavior of the memory device. This study will contribute to the understanding of the intrinsic characteristics of IHPs for low‐voltage resistive switching and demonstrate the huge potential of them for use in low‐power consumption nonvolatile memory devices on next‐generation computing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Korean fashion firms face difficulties in sustaining their growth momentum because of market stagnation and the aggressive entry of global luxury and SPA brands. To find a breakthrough, local fashion firms are adopting diverse strategies, including direct entry, licensing, and acquisitions, to successfully tap into the global market. Kolon FnC, which is among the five affiliates of Kolon Industries, focuses its business in the production and sales of fashion goods and clothing lines. Focusing on its strength as a leading brand power in the sports and outdoor segment, Kolon FnC is making strategic moves, such as diversifying its fashion portfolio, creating new value by collaborating with artists, and enhancing its R&D capability for new garment materials, which is led by one of its sister affiliates, Kolon Fashion Material. Under the leadership of the newly appointed CEO Dong-Mun Park, Kolon FnC is aggressively seeking talented young designers in Korea to differentiate itself from its global competitors. CEO Park strongly believes that talented young Korean designers can be a viable source of competitive advantage against global competitors. Since 2010, Kolon FnC has acquired several small-sized designer shops and fashion accessory shops to diversify its fashion portfolio and to create a young and vibrant brand image. This approach marks a departure from the strategic paths of its major local competitors, as Korean fashion firms typically focus on licensing or acquiring foreign brands. This case aims to identify the practical implications of global expansion strategies by analyzing how the Korean fashion industry has evolved and how Kolon FnC and its competitors have deployed different global expansion strategies in developing their resources and/or capabilities for future growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]