Research Explosion: More Effort to Climb onto Shoulders of the Giant

Fast-growing scientific publications present challenges to the scientific community. In this paper, we describe their implications to researchers. As references form explicit foundations for researchers to conduct a study, we investigate the evolution in reference patterns based on 60.8 million papers published from 1960 to 2015. The results demonstrate that recent papers contain more references than older ones, especially the well-cited papers compared with other papers. Well-cited papers receive 10 or more citations within 5 years of publication. Their references cover a longer period from classic research to very recent studies. Authors of well-cited papers are also farsighted to discover the reference papers with good potential to receive high citation numbers in near future. We also discover that the number of accumulative publications has a negative impact on next-5-year citation count for most fields except Chemistry, Materials science, Environmental science, Biology, and Engineering. Our findings suggest that researchers are expected to devote more effort to producing impactful research. Based on all these findings, we strongly advise against judging researchers simply based on the number of their publications. On the other hand, authors and reviewers should ensure that published papers contain adequate contributions. The code for our analysis is on GitHub: https://github.com/ECNU-Text-Computing/Research-Explosion.Comment: 21 pages, 24 figure

H2CGL: Modeling Dynamics of Citation Network for Impact Prediction

The potential impact of a paper is often quantified by how many citations it will receive. However, most commonly used models may underestimate the influence of newly published papers over time, and fail to encapsulate this dynamics of citation network into the graph. In this study, we construct hierarchical and heterogeneous graphs for target papers with an annual perspective. The constructed graphs can record the annual dynamics of target papers' scientific context information. Then, a novel graph neural network, Hierarchical and Heterogeneous Contrastive Graph Learning Model (H2CGL), is proposed to incorporate heterogeneity and dynamics of the citation network. H2CGL separately aggregates the heterogeneous information for each year and prioritizes the highly-cited papers and relationships among references, citations, and the target paper. It then employs a weighted GIN to capture dynamics between heterogeneous subgraphs over years. Moreover, it leverages contrastive learning to make the graph representations more sensitive to potential citations. Particularly, co-cited or co-citing papers of the target paper with large citation gap are taken as hard negative samples, while randomly dropping low-cited papers could generate positive samples. Extensive experimental results on two scholarly datasets demonstrate that the proposed H2CGL significantly outperforms a series of baseline approaches for both previously and freshly published papers. Additional analyses highlight the significance of the proposed modules. Our codes and settings have been released on Github (https://github.com/ECNU-Text-Computing/H2CGL)Comment: Accepted by IP&

High-Power and Ultralong-Life Aqueous Zinc-Ion Hybrid Capacitors Based on Pseudocapacitive Charge Storage

© 2019, © 2019, The Author(s). Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitors and zinc-ion batteries are promising safe energy storage systems. In this study, amorphous RuO2·H2O for the first time was employed to achieve fast and ultralong-life Zn2+ storage based on a pseudocapacitive storage mechanism. In the RuO2·H2O||Zn zinc-ion hybrid capacitors with Zn(CF3SO3)2 aqueous electrolyte, the RuO2·H2O cathode can reversibly store Zn2+ in a voltage window of 0.4–1.6 V (vs. Zn/Zn2+), delivering a high discharge capacity of 122 mAh g−1. In particular, the zinc-ion hybrid capacitors can be rapidly charged/discharged within 36 s with a very high power density of 16.74 kW kg−1 and a high energy density of 82 Wh kg−1. Besides, the zinc-ion hybrid capacitors demonstrate an ultralong cycle life (over 10,000 charge/discharge cycles). The kinetic analysis elucidates that the ultrafast Zn2+ storage in the RuO2·H2O cathode originates from redox pseudocapacitive reactions. This work could greatly facilitate the development of high-power and safe electrochemical energy storage.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Thymosin alpha 1 in the prevention of infected pancreatic necrosis following acute necrotising pancreatitis (TRACE trial): protocol of a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial

Introduction Infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) and its related septic complications are the major causes of death in patients with acute necrotising pancreatitis (ANP). Therefore, the prevention of IPN is of great clinical value, and immunomodulatory therapy with thymosin alpha 1 may be beneficial. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the administration of thymosin alpha 1 during the acute phase of ANP will result in a reduced incidence of IPN. Methods and analysis This is a randomised, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. 520 eligible patients with ANP will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either the thymosin alpha 1 or the placebo using the same mode of administration. The primary endpoint is the incidence of IPN during the index admission. Most of the secondary endpoints will be registered within the index admission including in-hospital mortality, the incidence of new-onset organ failure and new-onset persistent organ failure (respiration, cardiovascular and renal), receipt of new organ support therapy, requirement for drainage or necrosectomy, bleeding requiring intervention, human leucocyte antigens-DR(HLA-DR) on day 0, day 7, day 14, and so on and adverse events. Considering the possibility of readmission, an additional follow-up will be arranged 90 days after enrolment, and IPN and death at day 90 will also be served as secondary outcomes. Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the ethics committee of Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University (Number 2015NZKY-004-02). The thymosin alpha 1 in the prevention of infected pancreatic necrosis following acute necrotising pancreatitis(TRACE) trial was designed to test the effect of a new therapy focusing on the immune system in preventing secondary infection following ANP. The results of this trial will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT02473406)

Evolutionary patterns of RNA-based gene duplicates in <it>Caenorhabditis</it> nematodes coincide with their genomic features

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>RNA-based gene duplicates (retrocopies) played pivotal roles in many physiological processes. Nowadays, functional retrocopies have been systematically identified in several mammals, fruit flies, plants, zebrafish and other chordates, etc. However, studies about this kind of duplication in <it>Caenorhabditis</it> nematodes have not been reported.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We identified 43, 48, 43, 9, and 42 retrocopies, of which 6, 15, 18, 3, and 13 formed chimeric genes in <it>C. brenneri</it>, <it>C. briggsae</it>, <it>C. elegans</it>, <it>C. japonica</it>, and <it>C. remanei</it>, respectively. At least 5 chimeric types exist in <it>Caenorhabditis</it> species, of which retrocopy recruiting both N and C terminus is the commonest one. Evidences from different analyses demonstrate many retrocopies and almost all chimeric genes may be functional in these species. About half of retrocopies in each species has coordinates in other species, and we suggest that retrocopies in closely related species may be helpful in identifying retrocopies for one certain species.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A number of retrocopies and chimeric genes exist in <it>Caenorhabditis</it> genomes, and some of them may be functional. The evolutionary patterns of these genes may correlate with their genomic features, such as the activity of retroelements, the high rate of mutation and deletion rate, and a large proportion of genes subject to trans-splicing.</p

Examining the Relationships between Student Teacher Professional Identity Tensions and Motivation for Teaching: Mediating Role of Emotional Labor Strategies in China

Learning to be a teacher through teaching practicum is viewed as a highly complex process in which multiple dilemmas and tensions emerge. These tensions may influence student teachers’ motivation for teaching. However, previous studies on teacher motivation have mainly focused on social status and welfare, seldom taking their emotion regulation into account. Sampling 752 student teachers from 15 teacher education institutes in China, this study examined the relationships between student teachers’ emotional labor strategies, professional identity tensions, and motivation for teaching during their practicum. The results indicated that emotional labor strategies were found to be important resources for student teachers to cope with the challenges brought by the tensions of professional identities in teaching practicum. In particular, deep acting and expression of naturally felt emotions enhanced student teachers’ intrinsic motivation to become a teacher. The results indicated that student teachers should perform emotional labor strategically, which may motivate them to be a teacher intrinsically

Examining the Relationships between Student Teacher Professional Identity Tensions and Motivation for Teaching: Mediating Role of Emotional Labor Strategies in China

Learning to be a teacher through teaching practicum is viewed as a highly complex process in which multiple dilemmas and tensions emerge. These tensions may influence student teachers’ motivation for teaching. However, previous studies on teacher motivation have mainly focused on social status and welfare, seldom taking their emotion regulation into account. Sampling 752 student teachers from 15 teacher education institutes in China, this study examined the relationships between student teachers’ emotional labor strategies, professional identity tensions, and motivation for teaching during their practicum. The results indicated that emotional labor strategies were found to be important resources for student teachers to cope with the challenges brought by the tensions of professional identities in teaching practicum. In particular, deep acting and expression of naturally felt emotions enhanced student teachers’ intrinsic motivation to become a teacher. The results indicated that student teachers should perform emotional labor strategically, which may motivate them to be a teacher intrinsically

Tailoring impedance match and enhancing microwave absorption of Fe3O4/Bi24Fe2O39/Bi hollow porous microrods by controlling their composition

A self-assembly/precipitate conversion/decomposition process was developed for the controllable synthesis of Fe3O4/Bi24Fe2O39/Bi hollow porous microrods (HPMRs). The results demonstrated that the crystal size, component, and performances of HPMRs could be effectively modulated via changing Fe2+/Bi3+ molar ratio (γ). Fe3O4/Bi24Fe2O39/Bi HPMRs exhibited ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. As Bi and Bi24Fe2O39 contents increased with γ, the saturation magnetization Ms and attenuation constantly decreased, whereas coercivity Hc and impedance matching ratio increased. Compounding Fe3O4 with small quantities of Bi and Bi24Fe2O39 into HPMRs can significantly enhance microwave absorption. Fe3O4/Bi24Fe2O39/Bi HPMRs formed at γ = 1:0.25 exhibited the optimum microwave absorption performance. The minimum RL was − 47.3 dB at 8.72 GHz, corresponding to 2.4 mm sample thickness. The absorption band with the reflection loss below − 20 dB was up to 14.0 GHz for the absorber with a thickness of 1.4 − 8.0 mm. The results demonstrate that the introduction of electromagnetic transparent materials (Bi24Fe2O39 or Bi) can improve the microwave absorption performances of Fe3O4 composites owing to enhanced impedance matching rather than attenuation constant. Keywords: Fe3O4/Bi24Fe2O39/Bi composites, Synthesis, Hollow porous microrods, Magnetic property, Composition-dependent microwave absorptio

Genome-wide identification of lineage-specific genes within Caenorhabditis elegans

With the rapid growth of sequencing technology, a number of genomes and transcriptomes of various species have been sequenced, contributing to the study of lineage-specific genes (LSGs). We identified two sets of LSGs using BLAST: one included Caenorhabditis elegans species-specific genes (1423, SSGs), and the other consisted of Caenorhabditis genus-specific genes (4539, GSGs). The subsequent characterization and analysis of the SSGs and GSGs showed that they have significant differences in evolution and that most LSGs were generated by gene duplication and integration of transposable elements (TEs). We then performed temporal expression profiling and protein function prediction and observed that many SSGs and GSGs are expressed and that genes involved with sex determination, specific stress, immune response, and morphogenesis are over-represented, suggesting that these specific genes may be related to the Caenorhabditis nematodes' special ability to survive in severe and extreme environments. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved