An epistemological shift forward:The methodological zone of proximal research on motivation and emotion in learning and teaching

The author considers all chapters of Section II, highlighting that the most underlying and unequivocal message is the well-determined shift in emotion and motivation research from static, variable-centred, highly controlled, single-method studies (like surveys, randomised-control trials, or laboratory experimental designs) to a holistic, multi-method approach, tapping the dynamics of emotions and motivation and capturing situated within-person next to between-person change in the real habitat of the person. Demonstrating how readers can strive towards this epistemological shift, the author reflects on the chapters first by addressing the major insights and by reasoning on the opportunities and challenges in the methodological zone of proximal research in motivation and emotion.</p

Organ-Derived Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Hydrogels: Versatile Systems to Investigate the Impact of Biomechanics and Biochemistry on Cells in Disease Pathology:Handbook of the Extracellular Matrix

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides instructive and constructive support to cells in all organs. The ECM’s composition and structure are organ-dependent. The adhesion of cells to ECM with, e.g., integrins triggers cellular mechanosignalling. The role of mechanical properties of ECM hydrogels in vivo remains scarce. To replicate the ECM-cell interactions requires organ and tissue-specific ECM hydrogels. Such 3D culture systems allow the monitoring of ECM dynamics, i.e., turnover and mechanical changes (stiffness and stress relaxation). Compression testing allows to determine stiffness and stress relaxation. Hydrogels’ stress relaxation is governed by displacement of water, large macromolecules, and cells in a time- and organ origin-dependent fashion. The ECM biochemistry also regulates cell fate and function, e.g., through integrin signalling and via small molecules like growth factors that bind to specific ECM components. Organ-derived ECM hydrogels gain increasing interest due to their promising prospects for clinical use to augment tissue regeneration

Photoevaporation versus enrichment in the cradle of the Sun

The presence of short-lived radioisotopes (SLRs) 26Al and 60Fe in the Solar system places constraints on the initial conditions of our planetary system. Most theories posit that the origin of 26Al and 60Fe is in the interiors of massive stars, and they are either delivered directly to the protosolar disc from the winds and supernovae of the massive stars, or indirectly via a sequential star formation event. However, massive stars that produce SLRs also emit photoionizing far and extreme ultraviolet radiation, which can destroy the gas component of protoplanetary discs, possibly precluding the formation of gas giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn. Here, we perfom N-body simulations of star-forming regions and determine whether discs that are enriched in SLRs can retain enough gas to form Jovian planets. We find that discs are enriched and survive the photoionizing radiation only when the dust radius of the disc is fixed and not allowed to move inwards due to the photoevaporation, or outwards due to viscous spreading. Even in this optimal scenario, not enough discs survive until the supernovae of the massive stars and so have zero or very little enrichment in 60Fe. We therefore suggest that the delivery of SLRs to the Solar system may not come from the winds and supernovae of massive stars.</p

Analysis of the contribution of land consolidation to sustainable poverty alleviation under various natural conditions

Land consolidation plays a vital role in addressing the global poverty issue. Nevertheless, the factors and mechanisms contributing to the disparities in the impacts of land consolidation on poverty alleviation (LCPA) remain inadequately analyzed. This study aimed to explore how natural conditions influence the effectiveness of LCPA in contiguous impoverished mountainous regions. The structural equation model (SEM), questionnaire and interviews were used to analyze whether natural conditions will affect the effectiveness of LCPA in Wumeng Mountain contiguous poverty-stricken area. The results showed that under the influence of natural conditions, the direct benefits of LCPA decreased by 31.3%, while the indirect benefits decreased by 56.1%. Natural factors have a negative impact on the direct benefits of LCPA, as evidenced by a path coefficient of − 0.39. However, they exhibit a positive influence on the indirect benefits, with a coefficient of 0.57. Specifically, topography and soil have a negative effect on LCPA, but the characteristic hydrological and temperature conditions facilitate the cultivation of specialty crop, such as strawberries and blueberries. The impact of different natural factors on the benefits of LCPA exhibits significant variations. Elevation and precipitation have a pronounced impact on the benefits of LCPA, with path coefficients of 1.01 and 0.99, respectively, while the influence of soil and temperature is relatively limited. While adverse natural conditions are one of the significant factors contributing to poverty, the combination of characteristic climatic conditions and LCPA projects has jointly facilitated the development of agricultural enterprises. Policymakers should pay attention to the multidimensional role of natural factors in land consolidation and poverty alleviation and strengthen the sustainability of land consolidation in poverty alleviation.</p

Angle Rigidity for Multi-Agent Formations in 3D

This paper establishes the notion and properties of angle rigidity for 3D multi-point frameworks with angle constraints, and then designs direction-only control laws to stabilize angle rigid formations of mobile agents in 3D. Angles are defined using the interior angles of triangles within the given framework, which are independent of the choice of coordinate frames and can be conveniently measured using monocular cameras and direction-finding arrays. We show that 3D angle rigidity is a local property, which is in contrast to the 3D bearing rigidity as has been proved to be a global property in the literature. We demonstrate that such angle rigid and globally angle rigid frameworks can be constructed through adding repeatedly new points to the original small angle rigid framework with carefully chosen angle constraints. We also investigate how to merge two 3D angle rigid frameworks by connecting three points of one angle rigid framework simultaneously to the other. When angle constraints are given only in the surface of a framework, angle rigidity of convex polyhedra is studied, in which the cases of triangular face and triangulated face are considered, respectively. The proposed 3D angle rigidity theory is then utilized to design decentralized formation control strategies using local direction measurements for teams of mobile agents. Simulation examples are provided to validate the convergence of the formations.</p

Product Variety, the Cost of Living and Welfare Across Countries

We use the structure of the Melitz (2003) model to compute the cost of living and welfare across 47 countries, and compare these to conventional measures of prices and real consumption from the International Comparisons Project (ICP). The cost of living is inferred without directly using ICP prices of traded goods, but instead relying on output prices, openness, domestic trade costs and product variety measured by the counts of barcodes or firms. We find that welfare is lower than indicated by real consumption for most countries, but similar in China and Japan and similar or higher in some European countries

Normothermic Machine-perfused Human Donor Livers Produce Functional Hemostatic Proteins

BACKGROUND: Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is used for the viability assessment of high-risk donor livers before transplantation. The production of hemostatic proteins is one of the major synthetic functions of the liver. The objective of this study was to measure the concentration and functionality of hemostatic proteins concentration in the NMP perfusate of human donor livers.METHODS: Thirty-six livers that underwent NMP for viability assessment were included in this study. Perfusate samples taken during NMP (start, 150 min, and 300 min) were used for the measurement of antigen and activity levels of hemostatic proteins (factors II, VII, and X; fibrinogen; plasminogen; antithrombin; tissue plasminogen activator; von Willebrand factor; and proteins induced by vitamin K absence). The antigen levels were correlated with hepatocellular function according to previously proposed individual hepatocellular viability criteria: lactate clearance and perfusate pH.RESULTS: Antigen levels of hemostatic proteins reached subphysiological levels in the NMP perfusate. Hemostatic proteins that were produced during NMP were at least partially active. All livers produced all hemostatic proteins tested within 150 min of NMP. Hemostatic protein concentrations did not significantly correlate with perfusate lactate and perfusate pH after 150 min of NMP.CONCLUSIONS: All livers produce functional hemostatic proteins during NMP. The generation of a functional hemostatic system in NMP perfusate confirms the need for adequate anticoagulation of the perfusate to avoid generation of (micro)thrombi that may harm the graft.</p