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The importance of academic journals in second language (L2) research is evident on at least two levels. Journals are, first of all, central to the process of disseminating scientific findings. Journals are also critical on a professional level as most L2 researchers must publish articles to advance their careers. However, not all journals are perceived as equal; some may be considered more prestigious or of higher quality and may, therefore, achieve a greater impact on the field. It is therefore necessary that we understand the identity and quality of L2 research journals, yet very little research (e.g., Egbert, 2007; VanPatten Williams, 2002) has considered these issues to date. The current study sought to explore L2 journal identity and quality, and the relationship between these constructs. In order to do so, a database was compiled based on three different types of sources: (1) a questionnaire eliciting L2 researchers’ perceptions of the quality and prestige of 27 journals that publish L2 research (N = 327); (2) manual coding of different types of articles (e.g., empirical studies, review papers), data (quantitative, qualitative, mixed), research settings, and authorship patterns (K = 2,024) using the same 27 journals; and (3) bibliometric and submission data such as impact factors, citation counts, and acceptance rates. Descriptive statistics were applied to explore overall quality and prestige ratings as well as publication trends found in each journal. The relationships between those patterns and subjective ratings were also examined. In addition, regression models were built to determine the extent to which perceptions of journal quality and prestige could be explained as a function of journal and article features. We discuss the findings of the study in terms of on-going debates concerning publication practices, study quality, impact factors, journal selection, and the “journal culture” in applied linguistics.

Many higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United States have developed what is called post-entry language assessment (PELA) policies. The stated goal of PELA policies is to help admitted international students succeed academically by identifying those who are likely to struggle to meet the language demands of their degree programs and providing them with preparatory training to improve their academic English skills (Read, 2015a). Building on wider calls for socially conscious agenda for applied linguistics (Douglas Fir Group, 2016; Ortega, 2019) and language assessment (Deygers, 2019; Shohamy, 2017), this dissertation research examines an underexplored aspect in the study of PELA, namely, the value and social implication of stated PELA policies and the variety of actions and practices that shape them as de facto policies and further generate unintended consequences for multilingual international students. Amid the searing national conversation about social justice that our pandemic times have put on the spotlight, this dissertation contributes to the advancement of knowledge about critical questions such as: What social/cultural values underlie PELA? What happens in our education systems and the larger social contexts as a result of using PELA? The dissertation consists of three interrelated studies. In study 1, I conducted a document analysis and provided a bird’s eye view of official PELA policies in 50 postgraduate education institutions in the U.S. The findings from study 1 allow me to offer an in-depth discussion of values, assumptions, and ideological underpinning of the stated policies as well as the ways in which PELA policies function in elevating or undermining the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts embraced by higher education systems. In study 2, I analyzed interviews with 9 policy actors – content faculty and ELI directors, and explored their policy interpretation and appropriation processes. The findings from study 2 reveal a wide spectrum of perspectives, beliefs, and language ideologies held by these stakeholders. Finally, in Study 3, I adopted a blend of critical discourse analysis and thematic analysis and analyzed 129 threaded posts from an online forum for Korean international graduate students. The findings from study 3 afford a window into the lived experiences of international graduate students seen through their own eyes, with particular emphasis on factors that interfere with their academic pursuits and well-being.Four main findings can be gleaned from the combined insights of the three studies. First, while PELA policies may bring instrumental benefits to students and HEIs, they can simultaneously help perpetuate deficit thinking and yield harmful material effects on multilingual international students’ educational experiences. Second, policy actors utilize their agency and constantly draw on norms, their life experiences, and their expertise/knowledge, and engage a range of subject positions and identities to make sense of PELA policies imposed upon them, although their impact is often confined to their own spheres of influence (e.g., classroom) without more broadly challenging, much less transforming, the institutional sphere. Third, international students’ perceived experiences and sense of vulnerabilities, intertwined with structural issues that permeate the host community (e.g., discrimination), shape their classroom and educational behaviors in stigmatizing ways. Fourth and lastly, stated policy rhetoric and felt realities reported by international students were often at odds with DEI values proclaimed by HEIs. Together, the dissertation research leads to the conclusion that in order to cultivate an inclusive environment, HEIs must take two steps: (1) engage in critical reflection about the assumptions and norms that drive many high-level decisions (e.g., policy formation, budget allocation) and (2) generate long-term, actionable plans to dismantle the systemic issues facing multilingual international students. I further discuss the study’s implications for research, policy, and practice in the broader field of applied linguistics.

Aim： To investigate early insulin release （EIR） and late insulin release （LIR） upon glucose challenge as well as important insulin signa- ling factors in differentiated insulin-producing cells from embryonic stem cells（ESCs）. Methods： A recently published protocol was modified by increasing the concentration of Exendin-4 （from 0.1 nmol/L to 10 nmol/L） together with an additional 5-day culture in low glucose （5.5 mmol/L） medium after differentiation. Gene expression profile, insulin content, C-peptide, EIR and LIR were determined. Results： Compared to a lower concentration of Exendin-4 （0.1 nmol/L）, a higher concentration of Exendin-4 （10 nmol/L） increased glucose-responsive insulin secretion, especially EIR. Moreover, 10 nmol/L Exendin-4 increased the expression of the following genes： insulin 1, Pdx-1 （an important transcription factor, newly recognized insulin signaling factors）, Epacl and Epac2 （exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP I and 2）, and sulfonylurea receptor 1 （SUR1, the subunit of the KATP channel）. Conclusion： According to current knowledge, our modified protocol with a higher concentration of Exendin-4 （10 nmol/L） together with an additional 5-day 5.5 mmol/L glucose culture after differentiation improved the efficiency of differentiation toward the beta cell phenotype, which was possibly the result of stimulated expression of Pdx-1, Epac 1, and Epac 2, which in turn inhibited the K（ATP） channe through combination with SUR1, leading to increased EIR upon glucose challenge.

Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is a complex disease with extensive molecular and transcriptional heterogeneity. GBM can be subcategorized into four distinct subtypes; tumors that shift towards the mesenchymal phenotype upon recurrence are generally associated with treatment resistance, unfavorable prognosis, and the infiltration of pro-tumorigenic macrophages. Results We explore the transcriptional regulatory networks of mesenchymal-associated tumor-associated macrophages (MA-TAMs), which drive the malignant phenotypic state of GBM, and identify macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) as the most highly differentially expressed gene. MARCO high TAMs induce a phenotypic shift towards mesenchymal cellular state of glioma stem cells, promoting both invasive and proliferative activities, as well as therapeutic resistance to irradiation. MARCO high TAMs also significantly accelerate tumor engraftment and growth in vivo. Moreover, both MA-TAM master regulators and their target genes are significantly correlated with poor clinical outcomes and are often associated with genomic aberrations in neurofibromin 1 (NF1) and phosphoinositide 3-kinases/mammalian target of rapamycin/Akt pathway (PI3K-mTOR-AKT)-related genes. We further demonstrate the origination of MA-TAMs from peripheral blood, as well as their potential association with tumor-induced polarization states and immunosuppressive environments. Conclusions Collectively, our study characterizes the global transcriptional profile of TAMs driving mesenchymal GBM pathogenesis, providing potential therapeutic targets for improving the effectiveness of GBM immunotherapy.

Genome editing has potential for the targeted correction of germline mutations. Here we describe the correction of the heterozygous MYBPC3 mutation in human preimplantation embryos with precise CRISPR–Cas9-based targeting accuracy and high homology-directed repair efficiency by activating an endogenous, germline-specific DNA repair response. Induced double-strand breaks (DSBs) at the mutant paternal allele were predominantly repaired using the homologous wild-type maternal gene instead of a synthetic DNA template. By modulating the cell cycle stage at which the DSB was induced, we were able to avoid mosaicism in cleaving embryos and achieve a high yield of homozygous embryos carrying the wild-type MYBPC3 gene without evidence of off-target mutations. The efficiency, accuracy and safety of the approach presented suggest that it has potential to be used for the correction of heritable mutations in human embryos by complementing preimplantation genetic diagnosis. However, much remains to be considered before clinical applications, including the reproducibility of the technique with other heterozygous mutations. CRISPR–Cas9 genome editing is used to induce a DNA repair response and correct a disease-causing heterozygous mutation in human embryos with reduced mosaicism and preferential repair using the wild-type copy of the gene. CRISPR-corrected mutation Genome editing could be applied to correct disease-causing mutations in human embryos, but concerns about efficacy and safety are paramount. Shoukhrat Mitalipov and colleagues use CRISPR–Cas9 to correct a heritable cardiomyopathy mutation in human embryos. By optimizing the experimental conditions, the authors show very reduced mosaicism, and report that for this heterozygous mutation, CRISPR–Cas9-induced breaks seem to be preferentially repaired using the wild-type allele as a template in human embryos. The results advance our understanding of the promises and challenges of editing the human germline.

As the global population ages rapidly, from a positive aging view, promoting later life through sport participation has been recognized as strategies for maintaining and boosting the social and psychological health of older people. To better understand the role of sport participation among older adults, the primary purpose of the study was to explore the mediating role of social capital on the relationship between sport participation and happiness among older adults. A convenience sample of 208 pickleball participants aged from 50 to 83 years completed a survey. A level of pickleball participation was measured using Serious Leisure Inventory, social capital was measured by cognitive (i.e., feelings of trust and safety) and structural (i.e., community participation, neighborhood connections) social capital, and happiness was measured by a single item scale of general feelings of happiness. After controlling socio-demographic characteristics, results showed that (a) pickleball participation was significantly and positively predicted by general happiness, (b) pickleball participation was significantly and positively predicted by all three elements of social capital, (c) two elements of social capital (i.e., feelings of trust and safety, neighborhood connections) had a significant and positive mediating role on the relationship between pickleball participation and general happiness. We suggest that sport-based social capital intervention can add significant value to older adults’ general happiness for successful aging.

When raccoon rabies first invaded the mid-Atlantic United States, epizootics were larger, longer, and more pronounced than those in its historic, more southern, range, suggesting a North-South gradient in disease dynamics. In addition, due to higher raccoon densities and concentrated feeding sources, urban areas might sustain larger epizootics, suggesting an urban-rural gradient might likewise influence dynamics. Here we leverage long-term surveillance data on raccoon rabies, collated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Department of Agriculture, and state and local public health agencies to better understand the role of latitude and urbanness for raccoon rabies epizootiology. Our analysis utilizes surveillance data from the 20 states composing the raccoon rabies enzootic area across 2006–2018. We identified effects of latitude and human population density (a proxy for urbanness) on the county-level probability of detecting raccoon rabies. We find that: 1) in the northeastern US, more samples are submitted in the summer, and more positive results are obtained, albeit with a lower likelihood of a given sample being found to be rabid, while these trends are independent of season at southern latitudes; 2) the association between urbanness and risk of rabies cases varies across latitude, with greater rabies presence in rural vs. urban counties in the south and a more consistent risk across urbanness in the north; and 3) the most consistent predictors of raccoon rabies detection are spatiotemporal effects, suggesting that recent detection of cases in a county or its neighbors are more informative of raccoon rabies dynamics than are general metrics like latitude and urbanness. Statistical and spatial long-term studies like these not only can improve understanding of wildlife disease patterns but can help guide public health and wildlife management efforts in areas most at risk for raccoon rabies virus infection.

Sport participation is well known to promote health outcomes for children and adolescents. Nevertheless, there is insufficient evidence about the psychological and social outcomes of sport participation for older adults. This article provides the results of a systematic review of the psychological and social outcomes of sport participation for older adults. A systematic review of seven electronic databases was conducted and a total of 21 studies published that attended to psychological and/or social health benefits from sport participation of older adults (50 years old and over) were included. The outcomes of older adults’ sport participation included life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, stress, mood state, hedonistic values, socialisation, competition, and personal psychological outcomes such as personal empowerment, self-confidence, self-esteem and resistance to the negative view of ageing. Future studies are needed to conceptualise and operationalise the different levels of involvement of sport participation.

Despite the many comorbidities and high mortality rate in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), therapeutic strategies vary depending on the clinical setting, and most studies of the related risk factors are based on small sample populations. We aimed to compare the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) analysis with that of conventional analysis to identify risk factors associated with symptomatic PDA (sPDA) in very low birth weight infants. This nationwide cohort study included 8369 very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The participants were divided into an sPDA group and an asymptomatic PDA or spontaneously close PDA (nPDA) group. The sPDA group was further divided into treated and untreated subgroups. A total of 47 perinatal risk factors were collected and analyzed. Multiple logistic regression was used as a standard analytic tool, and five AI algorithms were used to identify the factors associated with sPDA. Combining a large database of risk factors from nationwide registries and AI techniques achieved higher accuracy and better performance of the PDA prediction tasks, and the ensemble methods showed the best performances.

Norovirus is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Over 30 different genotypes, mostly from genogroup I (GI) and II (GII), have been shown to infect humans. Despite three decades of genome sequencing, our understanding of the role of genomic diversification across continents and time is incomplete. To close the spatiotemporal gap of genomic information of human noroviruses, we conducted a large-scale genome-wide analyses that included the nearly full-length sequencing of 281 archival viruses circulating since the 1970s in over 10 countries from four continents, with a major emphasis on norovirus genotypes that are currently underrepresented in public genome databases. We provided new genome information for 24 distinct genotypes, including the oldest genome information from 12 norovirus genotypes. Analyses of this new genomic information, together with those publicly available, showed that (i) noroviruses evolve at similar rates across genomic regions and genotypes; (ii) emerging viruses evolved from transiently-circulating intermediate viruses; (iii) diversifying selection on the VP1 protein was recorded in genotypes with multiple variants; (iv) non-structural proteins showed a similar branching on their phylogenetic trees; and (v) contrary to the current understanding, there are restrictions on the ability to recombine different genomic regions, which results in co-circulating populations of viruses evolving independently in human communities. This study provides a comprehensive genetic analysis of diverse norovirus genotypes and the role of non-structural proteins on viral diversification, shedding new light on the mechanisms of norovirus evolution and transmission.