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Calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus (FK506), are commonly used immunosuppressants for preserving transplanted organs and tissues. However, these drugs can cause severe and persistent pain. GluA2-lacking, calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs) are implicated in various neurological disorders, including neuropathic pain. It is unclear whether and how constitutive calcineurin, a Ca2+/calmodulin protein phosphatase, controls synaptic CP-AMPARs. In this study, we found that blocking CP-AMPARs with IEM-1460 markedly reduced the amplitude of AMPAR-EPSCs in excitatory neurons expressing vesicular glutamate transporter-2 (VGluT2), but not in inhibitory neurons expressing vesicular GABA transporter, in the spinal cord of FK506-treated male and female mice. FK506 treatment also caused an inward rectification in the current–voltage relationship of AMPAR-EPSCs specifically in VGluT2 neurons. Intrathecal injection of IEM-1460 rapidly alleviated pain hypersensitivity in FK506-treated mice. Furthermore, FK506 treatment substantially increased physical interaction of α2δ-1 with GluA1 and GluA2 in the spinal cord and reduced GluA1/GluA2 heteromers in endoplasmic reticulum-enriched fractions of spinal cords. Correspondingly, inhibiting α2δ-1 with pregabalin, Cacna2d1 genetic knock-out, or disrupting α2δ-1–AMPAR interactions with an α2δ-1 C terminus peptide reversed inward rectification of AMPAR-EPSCs in spinal VGluT2 neurons caused by FK506 treatment. In addition, CK2 inhibition reversed FK506 treatment–induced pain hypersensitivity, α2δ-1 interactions with GluA1 and GluA2, and inward rectification of AMPAR-EPSCs in spinal VGluT2 neurons. Thus, the increased prevalence of synaptic CP-AMPARs in spinal excitatory neurons plays a major role in calcineurin inhibitor-induced pain hypersensitivity. Calcineurin and CK2 antagonistically regulate postsynaptic CP-AMPARs through α2δ-1—mediated GluA1/GluA2 heteromeric assembly in the spinal dorsal horn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to introduce an innovative decision architecture to assess corporate risks by utilizing accounting narratives and to further examine the association between those risks and operating performance. We run text mining algorithms to identify the types of risks from narratives and incorporate them with a readability measure (i.e., linguistic cue(s)) to conjecture a firm manager's attitude toward corporate risk. We consider a two-stage network data envelopment analysis (TNDEA) with the benefit of opening up the black-box of a production process via considering internal activities. The outcome derived from TNDEA is determined by users who decide "a priori" what the specification of the model should be, without considering any alternatives. The study further incorporates the fuzzy rough set theory (FRST) with TNDEA by considering inclusion/exclusion or different combinations of inputs, intermediates, and outputs so as to realize a corporate's underlying business situation. Decision attributes taken from the outcome of FRST-TNDEA and condition attributes gathered from annual reports are jointly inserted into an artificial intelligence (AI) technique to establish the forecasting model. The integrated circuit (IC) industry has long been viewed as an essential backbone of Taiwan's economy, and therefore it is taken as our research target. The results show that the introduced linguistic cues have positive and considerable impacts on firm performance. Overall, the findings herein provide direct support for recent regulators that require corporates to add a new section on risk factors in accounting narratives so as to prevent users from making biased judgments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The bioactivity mechanism of germanotungstate is still not well understood. • Two new Keggin-type germanotungstates were synthesized and crystallized. • Compound 1 and 2 exhibited high anti-proliferative activities against cancer cells. • Compounds 1 and 2 repressed the activity of STAT3 and Bcl-2. • Compounds 1 and 2 induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Germanotungstates have been studied variously and widely in antitumor activity aganist various cancer cells; however, their mode of action remains unclear. In this study, we integrated transition metals and organic ligands into the Keggin polyoxometalates via covalence and metal coordination and crystallized two Keggin-type germanotungstates compounds 1 [Mn(2,2ʹ-bpy) 3 ] 2 [GeW 12 O 40 ]·0·5H 2 O and 2 [Fe(2,2ʹ-bpy) 2 Cl 2 ] 2 (Hbpy) 2 [GeW 12 O 40 ]. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited high anti-proliferative activities against gastric cancer AGS and MGC803, colon cancer SW480, and liver cancer HepG2 cells, with IC 50 values below 50 μmol/L. Further investigation of the molecular mechanism in AGS cells revealed that compounds 1 and 2 repressed the STAT3 pathway and its downstream Bcl-2 family proteins. Downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins leads to the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential, eventually triggering caspase-dependent apoptosis. These results demonstrate that compounds 1 and 2 exert antitumor activity via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Overall, our findings provide evidence for the development of antitumor germanotungstate-type drugs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Ga ion irradiation intensity on the surface of multilayer graphene was examined. Using Raman spectroscopy, we determined that the irradiation caused defects in the crystal structure of graphene. The density of defects increased with the increase in dwell times. Furthermore, the strain induced by the irradiation changed the crystallite size and the distance between defects. These defects had the effect of doping the multilayer graphene and increasing its work function. The increase in work function was determined using contact potential difference measurements. The surface morphology of the multilayer graphene changed following irradiation as determined by atomic force microscopy. Additionally, the adhesion between the atomic force microscopy tip and sample increased further indicating that the irradiation had caused surface modification, important for devices that incorporate graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay between genetic and environmental factors is critically involved in hypertension development. The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus regulates sympathetic output during stress responses and chronic hypertension. In this study, we determined mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the PVN in chronic stress-induced persistent hypertension in male borderline hypertensive rats (BHR), the first offspring of spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. In Wistar-Kyoto rats, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) increased arterial blood pressure (ABP) and heart rate, which quickly returned to baseline after CUMS ended. In contrast, in BHR, CUMS caused persistent elevation in ABP, which lasted at least 2 weeks after CUMS ended. CUMS also increased the mRNA level of α2δ-1 and synaptic protein levels of GluN1, α2δ-1, and α2δ-1–GluN1 complexes in the PVN in BHR. Furthermore, CUMS significantly increased the frequency of miniature EPSCs and the amplitude of NMDAR currents in spinally projecting PVN neurons in BHR; these increases were normalized by blocking NMDARs with AP5, inhibiting α2δ-1 with gabapentin, or disrupting the α2δ-1–NMDAR interaction with α2δ-1Tat peptide. Microinjection of AP5 or α2δ-1Tat peptide into the PVN normalized elevated ABP and renal sympathetic nerve activity in stressed BHR. In addition, systemically administered gabapentin or memantine attenuated higher ABP induced by CUMS in BHR. Our findings indicate that chronic stress-induced persistent hypertension is mediated by augmented sympathetic outflow via α2δ-1–bound NMDARs in the PVN. This new information provides a cellular and molecular basis for how the genetic-environment interactions cause persistent hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study designed a decision-making learning module to engage students in collective decision-making in a collaborative learning environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the interplay of students' regulation learning in groups and their collective decision-making about a socioscientific issue. Thirty-eight 10th-grade students participated in the study. A variety of data were collected to examine the students' collective decision-making and regulation learning while they collaboratively conducted a socioscientific decision-making activity, including worksheets, computer activity recordings, and students' verbal interactions. The results indicated strong associations which showed that students who had sophisticated decision-making in a group tended to have more social shared regulation, and performed more regulation behaviours to refine their collective decision-making. The sequential analysis also indicated that students who manifested the serial nature of regulation processes and goal-driven learning might have exhibited a sophisticated decision-making performance when engaged in collective decision-making. The deficiencies in group interaction identified in this study underscore the need to provide scaffolds for regulation learning in order to refine students' collective decision-making in a SSI context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study designed a decision-making learning module to engage students in collective decision-making in a collaborative learning environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the interplay of students' regulation learning in groups and their collective decision-making about a socioscientific issue. Thirty-eight 10th-grade students participated in the study. A variety of data were collected to examine the students' collective decision-making and regulation learning while they collaboratively conducted a socioscientific decision-making activity, including worksheets, computer activity recordings, and students' verbal interactions. The results indicated strong associations which showed that students who had sophisticated decision-making in a group tended to have more social shared regulation, and performed more regulation behaviours to refine their collective decision-making. The sequential analysis also indicated that students who manifested the serial nature of regulation processes and goal-driven learning might have exhibited a sophisticated decision-making performance when engaged in collective decision-making. The deficiencies in group interaction identified in this study underscore the need to provide scaffolds for regulation learning in order to refine students' collective decision-making in a SSI context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiologic studies have indicated that dyslipidemia may facilitate the progression of cognitive dysfunction. We previously showed that patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) had significantly higher plasma levels of electronegative very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) than did healthy controls. However, the effects of electronegative-VLDL on the brain and cognitive function remain unclear. In this study, VLDL isolated from healthy volunteers (nVLDL) or patients with MetS (metVLDL) was administered to mice by means of tail vein injection. Cognitive function was assessed by using the Y maze test, and plasma and brain tissues were analyzed. We found that mice injected with metVLDL but not nVLDL exhibited significant hippocampus CA3 neuronal cell loss and cognitive dysfunction. In mice injected with nVLDL, we observed mild glial cell activation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus CA3. However, in mice injected with metVLDL, plasma and brain TNF-α and Aβ-42 levels and glial cell activation in the mPFC and whole hippocampus were higher than those in control mice. In conclusion, long-term exposure to metVLDL induced levels of TNF-α, Aβ-42, and glial cells in the brain, contributing to the progression of cognitive dysfunction. Our findings suggest that electronegative-VLDL levels may represent a new therapeutic target for cognitive dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study identified recent trends in socioscientific issues (SSIs) in the field of education. Through descriptive analysis and co-word analysis, selected articles published in journals listed in the Social Science Citation Index and Scopus from 2000 to 2021 were screened. A total of 334 papers were retrieved as research target samples from the Web of Science and Scopus databases after many rounds of searching and filtering. An analysis revealed an overall growing trend of SSI-related publications in the field of education. High-impact journals that published SSI-related research and highly cited articles were also identified. A series of co-word analyses were then conducted to determine co-occurring relationships among the keywords of the sample papers. This study extracted 39 author-defined keywords shared by at least three studies in the target samples. The analytic results indicated that 'argumentation,' 'decision-making,' 'scientific literacy,' and 'knowledge' were frequently used along with SSI as keywords. The co-word networks of the whole corpus of keywords and selected keywords were visualised to refine the common understanding of the educators and obtain the SSI research foci. This paper also offers future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed 2008–2017 articles in primary science education journals to explore the features and trends of teaching strategies for scientific practices. Five criteria were used to select the articles: (1) emphasizing inquiry teaching in either the theoretical framework or the findings section, (2) incorporating teaching strategies into inquiry teaching or professional development, (3) selecting science as subject matter, (4) being empirical research, and (5) not including special needs or ESL (English as Second Language) students as participants. Based on the above criteria, 310 articles were selected for further coding in the dimensions of teaching strategies and teaching goals. The teaching goals for the usage of the teaching strategies for scientific practices include affective, epistemic and sociocultural goals. Two categories of teaching strategies were coded for scientific practices including student-centered and teacher-centered strategies. The results showed that student-centered teaching strategies were adopted more than teacher-centered strategies; and experimenting, discussing, and a combination of experimenting and discussing were the most used teaching strategies, which were mostly used to achieve the cognitive and affective teaching goals. This was an increasing trend over the past 10 years. Moreover, teaching strategies for scientific practice have large, positive effects on the cognitive aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Anterior gradient 3 (AGR3) belongs to human anterior gradient (AGR) family. The function of AGR3 on cancer remains unknown. This research aimed to investigate if AGR3 had prognostic values in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast cancer and could promote tumor progression. Materials and Methods AGR3 expression was detected in breast benign lesions, ductal carcinoma in situ and IDC by immunohistochemistry analysis. AGR3's correlations with clinicopathological features and prognosis of IDC patients were analyzed. By cell function experiments, collagen gel droplet-embedded culture drug sensitivity test and cytotoxic analysis, AGR3's impacts on proliferation, invasion ability, and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity of breast cancer cells were also detected. Results AGR3 was up-regulated in luminal subtype of histological grade I-II of IDC patients and positively correlated with high risks of recurrence and distant metastasis. AGR3 high expression could lead to bone or liver metastasis and predict poor prognosis of luminal B. In cell lines, AGR3 could promote proliferation and invasion ability of breast cancer cells which were consistent with clinical analysis. Besides, AGR3 could indicate poor prognosis of breast cancer patients treated with taxane but a favorable prognosis with 5-fluoropyrimidines. And breast cancer cells with AGR3 high expression were resistant to taxane but sensitive to 5-fluoropyrimidines. Conclusion AGR3 might be a potential prognostic indicator in luminal B subtype of IDC patients of histological grade I-II. And patients with AGR3 high expression should be treated with chemotherapy regimens consisting of 5-fluoropyrimidines but no taxane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent need for efficient COVID-19 diagnosis has spurred advancements in chest X-ray (CXR) radiography, particularly with the aid of deep learning technologies like convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and graph neural networks (GNNs). Yet, the scarcity of labeled CXR images due to privacy constraints and the complexity of COVID-19 phenotypes often hamper model performance. In this study, we present an innovative pyramid GNN model that effectively tackles these challenges. By segmenting a CXR image into patches, our model leverages a CNN to capture shallow features, then employs a pyramid graph structure within GNN layers to gain the inter-relationship of infected region in distant patches and to amalgamate high-level features. These are subsequently processed by a multi-layer perceptron classifier for final diagnosis. Our approach offers multiple benefits, including noise elimination without the need for pre-treatment, efficient examination of remote infection regions, and the ability to accommodate the intricate structure of the lungs. Evaluations conducted on three distinct public CXR image datasets suggest that our pyramid GNN model offers a promising pathway for enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of COVID-19 diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we investigated how a newly developed learning environment that integrates mobile augmented reality (AR) technology supported students' socio-scientific reasoning (SSR). Drawing upon the reasoned action theory, we consider the roles of students' attitudes toward SSR before learning, and their cognitive and emotional engagement during learning in the students' actual performance of SSR. The implementation results indicate the impact of the learning environment on students' scientific knowledge and attitude change. Moreover, we identified a significant path of how the students developed their SSR by the interactions among their attitude toward SSR, and their cognitive and emotional engagement in the mobile AR learning environment. On the other hand, the students' post-learning attitudes toward SSR were dominated by their pre-learning attitudes. Implications and suggestions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel one-pot synthesis for fully substituted pyrazoles has been well developed via the in situ generation of nitrilimines from aryldiazonium salts and diazo esters and a subsequent cycloaddition with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. High yields, mild conditions, wide substrate scope, and operational simplicity are the significant advantages of this methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significance: We proposed lysophospholipids (LPLs) and LPL-G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as conditional danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and conditional DAMP receptors as a paradigm shift to the widely accepted classical DAMP and DAMP receptor model. Recent Advances: The aberrant levels of LPLs and GPCRs activate pro-inflammatory signal transduction pathways, trigger innate immune response and lead to tissue oxidative and inflammatory injury. Critical Issues: Classical DAMP model specifies only the endogenous metabolites that are released from damaged/dying cells as DAMPs, but fails to identify elevated endogenous metabolites secreted from viable/live cells during pathologies as DAMPs. The current classification of DAMPs also fails to clarify the following concerns: (i) Are molecules, which bind to pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), the only DAMPs contributing to inflammation and tissue injury? (ii) Are all DAMPs acting only via classical PRRs during cellular stress? To answer these questions, we reviewed the molecular characteristics and signaling mechanisms of LPLs, a group of endogenous metabolites and their specific receptors and analyzed the significant progress achieved in characterizing oxidative stress mechanisms of LPL mediated tissue injury. Future Directions: Further LPLs and LPL-GPCRs may serve as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of pathologies induced by sterile inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased expression of angiotensin II AT1A receptor (encoded by Agtr1a) and Na+-K+-CI- cotransporter-1 (NKCC1, encoded by Slc12a2) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) contributes to hypertension development. However, little is known about their transcriptional control in the PVN in hypertension. DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression. Here, we determined whether transcriptional activation of Agtr1a and Slc12a2 results from altered DNA methylation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and bisulfite sequencing-PCR showed that CpG methylation at Agtr1a and Slc12a2 promoters in the PVN was progressively diminished in SHR compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR reveaIed that enrichment of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1 and DNMT3A) and methyl-CpG binding protein 2, a DNA methylation reader protein, at Agtr1a and Slc12a2 promoters in the PVN was profoundly reduced in SHR compared with WKY. By contrast, the abundance of ten-eleven translocation enzymes (TET1-3) at Agtr1a and Slc12a2 promoters in the PVN was much greater in SHR than in WKY. Furthermore, microinjecting of RG108, a selective DNMT inhibitor, into the PVN of WKY increased arterial blood pressure and correspondingly potentiated Agtr1a and Slc12a2 mRNA levels in the PVN. Conversely, microinjection of C35, a specific TET inhibitor, into the PVN of SHR markedly reduced arterial blood pressure, accompanied by a decrease in Agtr1a and Slc12a2 mRNA levels in the PVN. Collectively, our findings suggest that DNA hypomethylation resulting from the DNMT/TET switch at gene promoters in the PVN promotes transcription of Agtr1a and Slc12a2 and hypertension development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

K+-Cl- cotransporter-2 (KCC2) critically controls neuronal chloride homeostasis and maintains normal synaptic inhibition by GABA and glycine. Nerve injury diminishes synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord via KCC2 impairment. However, how KCC2 regulates nociceptive input to spinal excitatory and inhibitory neurons remains elusive. Here, we show that basal GABA reversal potentials were significantly more depolarized in vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT)-expressing inhibitory neurons than those in vesicular glutamate transporter-2 (VGluT2)-expressing excitatory neurons in spinal cords of male and female mice. Strikingly, inhibiting KCC2 with VU0463271 increased currents elicited by puff NMDA and the NMDAR-mediated frequency of mEPSCs in VGluT2, but not in VGAT, dorsal horn neurons. Notably, VU0463271 had no effect on EPSCs monosynaptically evoked from the dorsal root in VGluT2 neurons. Furthermore, VU0463271 augmented α2δ-1--NMDAR interactions and their protein levels in spinal cord synaptosomes. In Cacna2d1 KO mice, VU0463271 had no effect on puff NMDA currents or the mEPSC frequency in dorsal horn neurons. Disrupting α2δ-1--NMDAR interactions with α2δ-1 C-terminus mimicking peptide diminished VU0463271-induced potentiation in the mEPSC frequency and puff NMDA currents in VGluT2 neurons. Additionally, intrathecal injection of VU0463271 reduced mechanical and thermal thresholds in wild-type mice, but not in Cacna2d1 KO mice. VU0463271-induced pain hypersensitivity in mice was abrogated by co-treatment with the NMDAR antagonist, pregabalin (an α2δ-1 inhibitory ligand), or α2δ-1 C-terminus mimicking peptide. Our findings suggest that KCC2 controls presynaptic and postsynaptic NMDAR activity specifically in excitatory dorsal horn neurons. KCC2 impairment preferentially potentiates nociceptive transmission between spinal excitatory interneurons via α2δ-1-bound NMDARs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A NH4I/ tert-butyl hydroperoxide-promoted oxidation of tertiary N-aryl- N, N-dialkylamines in DMSO has been developed to access nitroaromatic compounds. This methodology involves sequential N-dealkylation reactions in one-pot and a radical pathway is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to spread and encourage the use of innovative computer-based inquiry curricula in classrooms, it is fundamental to understand how teachers enact the curricula. It is also essential to study what kinds of teaching practices can enhance students' science learning. Based on a two-dimensional framework, the case study explored teachers' enactments of a computer-based inquiry unit on the topic of plate tectonics, and examined how the enactments might impact students' conceptual understanding and inquiry abilities. Two secondary teachers and a total of 62 students participated in the study. Data included students' performance during the unit, pre- and post-unit tests, videos of the lessons, and teacher interviews. The findings showed that during the unit, the two classes' performances were significantly different. The unit test results indicated that there were also significant differences in the conceptual item scores of the two classes, but not in the inquiry item scores. The video analysis showed that the two teachers had distinct enactments in terms of the cognitive and guidance dimensions. Both of the teachers' discourse was focused on the conceptual domain. However, the teaching strategies involved and the classroom social norms being shaped were diverse. Regarding the guidance dimension, one teacher provided a highly-structured, step-by-step approach in contrast with the other teacher's more freely–structured, segmented approach. By associating different teaching enactments with students' learning both during and after the unit, we discuss how the pedagogical features presented in the teacher enactments might contribute to students' conceptual and inquiry learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to develop and examine supports for inquiry practices in computer-based learning environments (CBLEs). Two kinds of supports for inquiry practices were developed, namely cognitive and metacognitive prompts. We employed a multiple case study design to analyze students' metacognitive reactions to these two kinds of prompts and the fading effect on the regulation process using a sequential analysis technique. The results of this study indicate that the high level inquiry group performed not only more metacognitive actions of monitoring and evaluating, but also performed them in different sequences than the less successful students (the middle and low level inquiry groups) during the prompted inquiry tasks. The sequential analysis in this study identified the students' crucial learning patterns of successful inquiry practices in both the structured and guided inquiry stages. The findings can be used to explore the possible alignment between scaffolding and learning behaviors, and the mechanism of fading for inquiry-based learning in CBLEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at improving the decision-making (DM) skills of 11th graders by incorporating a DM framework, visualisation tools, collaboration, and metacognitive guidance into a socioscientific issue context. Two classes, the experimental group (embedded metacognitive guidance,N = 42) and the comparison group (no metacognitive guidance,N = 32), were involved in the implementation of the experimental methodology. An open-ended test and worksheets were developed to assess the students’ DM skills. The results indicated that the two versions of the DM learning modules had similar effects on the improvement in the students’ DM skills, but there were significant differences in their overall skills in DM (Z = −6.410,p < .001), generating criteria (Z = −6.956,p < .001), and evaluating DM results (Z = −2.533,p < .011) based on the student responses on the worksheets. These findings indicate that further studies need to explore the mechanism of metacognitive guidance for students with different socioscientific issue DM skills in e-learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin, is known to play important roles in inhibiting proliferation rate, inducing apoptosis, as well as hindering the metastasis and invasion of glioma cells, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear so far. In this study, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), colony-forming, wound healing, invasion, and apoptosis assays were performed to investigate the effect of DHA on malignant glioma cells. Results showed that DHA induced apoptosis of malignant glioma cells through Protein Kinase B (AKT) axis, induced death of malignant glioma cells by downregulating miR-21, and inhibited the invasion of malignant glioma cells corresponding with up-regulation of the reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK). These results revealed that AKT axis, miR-21, and RECK play pivotal roles in DHA killing malignant glioma cells, suggesting that DHA is a potential agent for treating glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appropriate selection and implementation of technology in instruction is made possible by teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). The TPACK that inservice teachers develop is practitioner-based and can be continuously transformed with teaching experiences. In this study, we constructed video-embedded and disciplinefocused questionnaires to measure science teachers' TPACK. Item sets were generic across four disciplines and designed to investigate teachers' TPACK at different levels of the cognitive process. Each questionnaire was embedded with three instructional clips in which preservice teachers demonstrated their previously-prepared lessons on selected topics in biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics. Through exploratory factor analysis, four factors (i.e., evaluation, evaluation/synthesis, application/analysis, and knowledge/comprehension) emerged from the data. The presumed hierarchical interrelationships among these cognitive processes were investigated through a path analysis. The findings indicated that teachers' TPACK at the knowledge/comprehension level made significant loadings to TPACK at higher levels, but this was not the case for application/analysis. The disconnect for application/analysis within the simple-to-complex cognitive process hierarchy suggests that it should be viewed as different from the other three constructs that incorporate more instructional reasoning. The designs for the questionnaire items and embedded instructional clips that were used to elicit teachers' practical knowledge are presented herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cs2CO3-catalyzed reaction of 2-oxindoles with enones affords 2,2-disubstituted indolin-3-ones through domino "Michael addition-oxidation-ring-cleavage-C-N coupling" process. O2 acts as the sole oxidant to accomplish the oxidative process. The indolin-3-ones can be further transformed to pyridazine, azirdine-fused 3-oxindoles, 4-quinolone derivatives easily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the impact of an augmented reality (AR) versus interactive simulation (IS) activity incorporated in a computer learning environment to facilitate students' learning of a socio-scientific issue (SSI) on nuclear power plants and radiation pollution. We employed a quasi-experimental research design. Two classes (a total of 45 ninth-grade students) were randomly assigned to either the AR or IS treatments. We compared three outcome variables of the AR and IS groups: knowledge of and attitude towards the SSI, and perceptions of the AR or IS feature. We also examined the interplay among the three variables within each of the two groups. The results indicated no significant differences in knowledge and attitude, but a significant difference in the perceptions between the two groups. Moreover, different patterns of correlations among the variables were identified. The implication includes educational impact of emerging AR technologies to support affective aspects of student learning of SSIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to promote scientific inquiry in secondary schooling in Taiwan, the study developed a computer-based inquiry curriculum (including structured and guided inquiry units) and investigated how the curriculum influenced students’ science learning. The curriculum was implemented in 5 junior secondary schools in the context of a weeklong summer science course with 117 students. We first used a multi-level assessment approach to evaluate the students’ learning outcomes with the curriculum. Then, a path analysis approach was adopted for investigating at different assessment levels how the curriculum as a whole and how different types of inquiry units affected the students’ development of conceptual understandings and inquiry abilities. The results showed that the curriculum was effective in enhancing the students’ conceptual knowledge and inquiry abilities in the contexts of the six scientific topics. After the curriculum, they were able to construct interconnected scientific knowledge. The path diagrams suggested that, due to different instructional designs, the structured and guided inquiry units appeared to support the students’ learning of the topics in different ways. More importantly, they demonstrated graphically how the learning of content knowledge and inquiry ability mutually influenced one another and were reciprocally developed in a computer-based inquiry learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explored how to best use scaffolds for supporting students’ inquiry practices in computer-supported learning environments. We designed a series of inquiry units assisted with three versions of written inquiry prompts (generic and context-specific); that is, three scaffold-fading conditions: implicit, explicit, and fading. We then examined how the three scaffold-fading conditions influenced students’ conceptual understanding, understanding of scientific inquiry, and inquiry abilities. Three grade-10 classes (N = 105) participated in this study; they were randomly assigned to and taught in the three conditions. Data-collection procedures included a pretest–posttest approach and in-depth observations of the target students. The findings showed that after these inquiry units, all of the students exhibited significant learning gains in conceptual knowledge and performed better inquiry abilities regardless of which condition was used. The explicit and fading conditions were more effective in enhancing students’ understanding of scientific inquiry. The fading condition tended to better support the students’ development of inquiry abilities and help transfer these abilities to a new setting involving an independent socioscientific task about where to build a dam. The results suggest that fading plays an essential role in enhancing the effectiveness of scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The two-year study aimed to explore how students' development of different inquiry abilities actually benefited from the design of technology-infused learning modules. Three learning modules on the topics of seasons, environmental issues and air pollution were developed to facilitate students' inquiry abilities: questioning, planning, analyzing, and modeling. Two classes of seventh graders (13-14 years old) were randomly assigned to an inquiry group (n = 24) and a baseline group (n = 27). The two groups engaged in three technology-infused learning modules and conventional instruction respectively, and took two inquiry ability tests three times throughout two years. The test results showed that the inquiry group performed significantly better than the baseline group with respect to several inquiry sub-abilities. The instructional components of the tasks (i.e., design features) for which students exhibited significant improvements were further analyzed with respect to the task complexity, the function of the prompts, and the types of representations presented in the tasks. These design features identified provided useful insights into future design of technology-infused learning tasks for different inquiry abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new coupling reaction between 2-vinylphenols and carboxylic acids was developed to synthesize 3-acyloxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans using Bu4NI as a catalyst and t-BuOOH as an oxidant. This simple and practical methodology is notable due to the ability to complete it under metal-free conditions, with easily available precursors, resulting in a product with high atom economy and high functional group tolerance. Upon the basis of experimental observations and literature, a plausible mechanism is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality 19 (GRIM-19) and the liver kinase B1 (LKB1) gene, two types of tumor suppressor gene, have been demonstrated to have important roles in breast carcinogenesis. The present study developed a dual expression plasmid that co-expressed GRIM-19 and LKB1, and evaluated the combined effects of the two genes against breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Transfection with a plasmid for the simultaneous expression of GRIM-19 and LKB1 (pGRIM19-LKB1) into MCF-7 breast cancer cells significantly inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion compared with the effects of transfection with either pGRIM-19 or pLKB1 alone. Furthermore, transfection with pGRIM19-LKB1 induced enhanced levels of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 stage in MCF7 cells compared to the effects of pGRIM-19 or pLKB1 alone. An in vivo experiment using an MCF-7 xenograft tumor model demonstrated that intravenous injection of pGRIM19-LKB1 had an enhanced effect on tumor growth inhibition compared to that of pGRIM-19 or pLKB1 alone. In conclusion the findings of the present study suggested that transfection with eukaryotic plasmid for the simultaneous expression of GRIM-19 and LKB1 more effectively suppressed the growth of breast cancer in vitro and in vivo, and may therefore have therapeutic potential for the treatment of human breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two coordination polymers base on a reduced Schiff base ligand, namely [Zn2((OOC)2C6H3NHCH2C6H4COOH)2(C10H8N2)(H2O)2]·3H2O (1) and [Zn2((OOC)2C6H3NHCH2C6H4COO)(C10H8N2)2(HCOO)(H2O)]·H2O (2), have been obtained by hydrothermal method and structurally characterized. These two compounds crystallize in the P21/c space group. Compound1exhibits a double-chain structure while compound2exhibit a layer structure. Photoluminescent investigation shows that compounds1and2displays strong emission in the yellow region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have potentially useful applications and an intriguing variety of architectures and topologies. Two homochiral coordination polymers have been synthesized by the hydrothermal method, namely poly[(μ- N-benzyl-L-phenylalaninato-κ4 O, O′: O, N)(μ-formato-κ2 O: O′)zinc(II)], [Zn(C16H16NO2)(HCOO)] n, (1), and poly[(μ- N-benzyl-L-leucinato-κ4 O, O′: O, N)(μ-formato-κ2 O: O′)zinc(II)], [Zn(C13H18NO2)(HCOO)] n, (2), and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Compounds (1) and (2) each have a two-dimensional layer structure, with the benzyl or isobutyl groups of the ligands directed towards the interlayer interface. Photoluminescence investigations show that both (1) and (2) display a strong emission in the blue region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of esophageal dysplasia/early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is essential for improving 5-year survival. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate whether Lugol chromoendoscopy improves the detection of esophageal dysplasia/early ESCC in patients with esophageal symptoms in a low-incidence region in China. Eligible patients were randomly assigned into two groups who received routine endoscopy or Lugol chromoendoscopy. During endoscopy, between one and five biopsies were taken from visible lesions for routine endoscopy, or unstained areas of >0.5 cm in diameter for Lugol chromoendoscopy. In total, 812 patients were enrolled, 395 for routine endoscopy and 417 for Lugol chromoendoscopy. The overall detection rate of esophageal dysplasia/early ESCC was 10.6% (86/812), the detection rates were 7.3% (29/395) and 13.7% (57/417) in routine and chromoendoscopy groups, respectively (χ²=8.58, P=0.003). The detection rates were 8.3% (48/580), 17.2% (17/99) and 16.5% (22/133), respectively, in patients with reflux, dysphagia and globus sensation symptoms. In the chromoendoscopy group, 213 patients had unstained lesions of >0.5 cm, the detection rates of dysplasia/early carcinoma were 5.3% (4/76) in those with lesions of 0.5-1.0 cm, and 37.2% (51/137) in those with lesions >1.0 cm (χ²=21.46, P<0.001). These results indicate that Lugol chromoendoscopy improves the detection rate of esophageal dysplasia/early carcinoma in patients with esophageal symptoms compared with routine endoscopy. We propose that Lugol chromoendoscopy must therefore be considered in addition to routine endoscopy in patients with esophageal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the effects of metacognitive and cognitive prompting on the scientific inquiry practices of students with various levels of initial metacognition. Two junior high school classes participated in this study. One class, the experimental group (n = 26), which received an inquiry-based curriculum with a combination of cognitive and metacognitive prompts, was compared to the other class, the comparison group (n = 25), which received only cognitive prompts in the same curriculum. Data sources included a test of inquiry practices, a questionnaire of metacognition, and worksheets. The results showed that the mixed cognitive and metacognitive prompts had significant impacts on the students’ inquiry practices, especially their planning and analyzing abilities. Furthermore, the mixed prompts appeared to have a differential effect on those students with lower level metacognition, who showed significant improvement in their inquiry abilities. A combination of cognitive and metacognitive prompts during an inquiry cycle was found to promote students’ inquiry practices. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a neuropeptide regulating neuroendocrine and autonomic function. CRH mRNA and protein levels in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) are increased in primary hypertension. However, the role of CRH in elevated sympathetic outflow in primary hypertension remains unclear. CRHR1 proteins were distributed in retrogradely labeled PVN presympathetic neurons with an increased level in the PVN tissue in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) compared with age-matched male Wistar--Kyoto (WKY) rats. CRH induced a more significant increase in the firing rate of PVN-rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) neurons and sympathoexcitatory response in SHRs than in WKY rats, an effect that was blocked by preapplication of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) antagonist AP5 and PSD-95 inhibitor, Tat- N-dimer. Blocking CRHRs with astressin or CRHR1 with NBI35965 significantly decreased the firing rate of PVN-RVLM output neurons and reduced arterial blood pressure (ABP) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in SHRs but not in WKY, whereas blocking CRHR2 with antisauvagine-30 did not. Furthermore, Immunocytochemistry staining revealed that CRHR1 colocalized with NMDARs in PVN presympathetic neurons. Blocking CRHRs significantly decreased the NMDA currents in labeled PVN neurons. PSD-95-bound CRHR1 and PSD-95-bound GluN2A in the PVN were increased in SHRs. These data suggested that the upregulation of CRHR1 in the PVN is critically involved in the hyperactivity of PVN presympathetic neurons and elevated sympathetic outflow in primary hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial dysfunction is a pathological status of the vascular system, which can be broadly defined as an imbalance between endothelium-dependent vasoconstriction and vasodilation. Endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the progression of many pathological processes including atherosclerosis, type II diabetes and hypertension. Previous reports have demonstrated that pro-inflammatory/immunoeffector cytokines significantly promote endothelial dysfunction while numerous novel anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive cytokines have recently been identified such as interleukin (IL)-35. However, the effects of anti-inflammatory cytokines on endothelial dysfunction have received much less attention. In this analytical review, we focus on the recent progress attained in characterizing the direct and indirect effects of anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive cytokines in the inhibition of endothelial dysfunction. Our analyses are not only limited to the importance of endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease progression, but also expand into the molecular mechanisms and pathways underlying the inhibition of endothelial dysfunction by anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive cytokines. Our review suggests that anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive cytokines serve as novel therapeutic targets for inhibiting endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation and cardio- and cerebro-vascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and efficient gold-catalyzed coupling of secondary amine with phenylglyoxal derivatives has been developed, which provides a practical synthetic strategy for the synthesis of substituted a-ketoamides under mild reaction conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphelenchoides besseyi is an obligate parasite that often causes white-tip symptoms in rice plants. The nematode exhibits ectoparasitic behaviour with its infection rate matching the development of rice plants. Few studies have analysed how A. besseyi migration is influenced by chemical and host factors. Here, we focused on the effects of auxins on nematode migration and propagation. Exposure of A. besseyi to an auxin gradient created by a Pluronic F-127 gel resulted in nematode aggregation at the highest auxin concentration tested, 100 ßm. Inoculation on the susceptible cv. Ningjingl produced more nematodes than on the resistant rice cv. Tetep, which correlated with their endogenous auxin levels. Young panicles treated with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid produced more grains and nematodes, whereas plants treated with the auxin transport inhibitor, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, led to fewer nematodes in the seeds. In addition, A. besseyi rarely migrated and multiplied in the plants of the male sterile rice cv. Zhenshan97A, which had insufficient auxin level in pollen and thus could not generate any grains in most panicles. However, large numbers of nematodes were observed in seeds of cv. Zhenshan97A that had received pollens from the maintainer cv. Zhenshan97B. The results indicate that auxin might play a key role in the migration and propagation of A. besseyi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological pedagogical content knowledge TPACK refers to the knowledge set that teachers currently use to further improve the quality of their teaching and assist their students in learning. Several TPACK models have been proposed, either for discussing TPACK's possible composition or its practical applications. Considering that teachers' practical experiences should also be critical to the development of those teachers' knowledge, this study invited a research panel (six researchers) and an expert panel (54 science-related educators) to propose and validate the framework of TPACK-practical. After two rounds of anonymous communications that followed Delphi survey techniques, a total of eight dimensions of TPACK-practical and corresponding indicators were identified and rated as having high levels of importance. Among these knowledge dimensions, the knowledge of direct information and communication technology uses for enhancing teachers' professionalism and students' conceptual comprehension was rated with a high level of importance. Also, disciplinary differences were found to exist between the different groups of experts. Biology teachers showed significantly higher ratings across all knowledge dimensions, whereas physics teachers' ratings were comparatively low. Such findings suggest that the structure and content of subject matter shapes not only the way they teach with technology but also the thinking logics they build longitudinally from their learning experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two homochiral coordination polymers based on a chiral reduced Schiff base ligand, namely poly[(μ5-4-{[(N R,1 S)-(1-carboxylato-2-phenylethyl)amino]methyl}benzoato)zinc(II)], [Zn(C17H15NO4)] n, (1), and poly[(μ5-4-{[(N R,1 S)-(1-carboxylato-2-phenylethyl)amino]methyl}benzoato)cobalt(II)], [Co(C17H15NO4)] n, (2), have been obtained by hydrothermal methods and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, IR spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Compounds (1) and (2) are isostructural and crystallize in the P212121 space group. Both display a three-dimensional network structure with a one-dimensional channel, with the benzyl group of the ligand directed towards the channel. An investigation of photoluminescence properties shows that compound (1) displays a strong emission in the purple region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to identify the travel-time difference accurately in the experimental study of Rayleigh wave acoustoelastic effect, an experimental system is constructed by the ultrasonic pulser-receiver, digital oscilloscope, Rayleigh wave transmitter and receiver, and a personal computer. And then, the digital correlation method and the Fourier transform frequency analysis method are used to obtain the travel-time difference of the Rayleigh wave corresponding to different subsurface stress conditions. Furthermore, the simulated ultrasonic signals are used to verify the reliability of the two kinds of ultrasonic signal information extracting algorithms, respectively. Finally, the proposed signal processing methods are applied to extract the time delay between different Rayleigh wave signals corresponding to different subsurface stress level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate staging of hepatic cirrhosis is important in investigating the cause and slowing down the effects of cirrhosis. Computeraided diagnosis (CAD) can provide doctors with an alternative second opinion and assist them to make a specific treatment with accurate cirrhosis stage. MRI has many advantages, including high resolution for soft tissue, no radiation, and multiparameters imaging modalities. So in this paper, multisequences MRIs, including T1-weighted, T2-weighted, arterial, portal venous, and equilibrium phase, are applied. However, CAD does not meet the clinical needs of cirrhosis and few researchers are concerned with it at present. Cirrhosis is characterized by the presence of widespread fibrosis and regenerative nodules in the hepatic, leading to different texture patterns of different stages. So, extracting texture feature is the primary task. Compared with typical gray level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) features, texture classification from random features provides an effective way, and we adopt it and propose CCTCRF for triple classification (normal, early, and middle and advanced stage). CCTCRF does not need strong assumptions except the sparse character of image, contains sufficient texture information, includes concise and effective process, and makes case decision with high accuracy. Experimental results also illustrate the satisfying performance and they are also compared with typical NN with GLCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to identify the travel-time difference accurately in the experimental study of Rayleigh wave acoustoelastic effect, an experimental system is constructed by the ultrasonic pulser-receiver, digital oscilloscope, Rayleigh wave transmitter and receiver, and a personal computer. And then, the digital correlation method and the Fourier transform frequency analysis method are used to obtain the travel-time difference of the Rayleigh wave corresponding to different subsurface stress conditions. Furthermore, the simulated ultrasonic signals are used to verify the reliability of the two kinds of ultrasonic signal information extracting algorithms, respectively. Finally, the proposed signal processing methods are applied to extract the time delay between different Rayleigh wave signals corresponding to different subsurface stress level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has analyzed the meaning and value of STEM education and explored both its current possibilities and future development. However, STEM education experts have not reached a consensus on the goals of STEM education, making its promotion more challenging. Thus, this study examined which particular STEM education goals should be emphasized through a survey questionnaire. The study employed a stratified random sampling method to collect survey data from secondary teachers of STEM-related courses (i.e., science, technology, and mathematics) in Taiwan. A total of 645 valid survey responses were collected and then analyzed by independent t-test and analysis of variance to examine teachers' perceptions about 17 critical competencies proposed as education goals relevant to STEM education. The findings revealed that STEM teachers generally had positive attitudes and high levels of acceptance toward implementing the 17 proposed STEM education goals through integrative STEM education. However, the proposed goal of "cultivating students' entrepreneurial capabilities" received lower scores and should not be used at the secondary level. It may be introduced as an important education goal in tertiary STEM education. In addition, STEM teachers with different backgrounds (e.g., STEM teaching experience, perceptions of STEM teaching methods) perceived the competency goals as having different levels of importance in STEM education. Teachers' willingness to teach STEM using a transdisciplinary integration method increases when they have access to sufficient resources and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared modeling skills and knowledge structures of four groups as seen in their understanding of air quality. The four groups were: experts (atmospheric scientists), intermediates (upper-level graduate students in a different field), advanced novices (talented 11th and 12th graders), and novices (10th graders). It was found that when the levels of modeling skills were measured, for most skills there was a gradual increase across the spectrum from the novices to the advanced novices to the intermediates to the experts. The study found the experts used model-based reasoning, the intermediates and advanced novices used relation-based reasoning, and the novices used phenomena-based reasoning to anticipate conclusions. The experts and intermediates used more bi-variable relationships in experimental design and anticipated conclusions, but used more multiple-variable relationships in identifying relationships. By contrast, the advanced novices and novices mostly used bi-variable relationships in all modeling skills. Based on these findings, we suggest design principles for model-based teaching and learning such as designing learning activities to encourage model-based reasoning, scaffolding one's modeling with multiple representations, testing models in authentic situations, and nurturing domain-specific knowledge during modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metal-free oxidative coupling of methyl ketones and primary or secondary amines to α-ketoamides has been developed. Four intermediates, α-iodoketone, α-aminoketone, iminium intermediate, and α-hydroxy amine have been identified through a series of control experiments. The atom-economic methodology can be scaled-up, tolerates a variety of functional groups, and is operationally simple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The authors aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of thrombin receptor (TR) expression in microvessel endothelial cells (VECs) by coagulation state in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods In 138 ESCC normal and para-tumour samples, we investigated the association of the expression of TR and CD34 (microvessel marker) seen on immunohistochemical staining and clinicopathological parameters, coagulation state, microvessel density (MVD), and survival of patients. Result In total, 62 ESCC tissues were positive for TR in VECs, and in 48 cases, the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was ≥28.5 s, with significant difference in tumour depth between TRpositive and -negative cases with APTT≥28.5 s. Also with APTT≥28.5 s, TR-positive MVD (TRMVD) was significantly greater with high than low CD34-positive MVD (CD34MVD; 7.9664.27 vs 5.6462.99; p=0.032). High CD34MVD was associated with increased TR expression in patients with APTT≥28.5 than $28.5 s. In patients with high CD34MVD, the number of TR-positive microvessels was greater with APTT≥28.5 than $28.5 s (n=17 vs n=6; p=0.002), and APTT and TR expressions were negatively correlated for patients with APTT≥28.5 s (r2=-0.472, p=0.023). For patients with APTT≥28.5 s, the cumulative survival rate was poorer with high than low TRMVD (p=0.027). On multivariate analysis, tumour size (p=0.006), tumour stage (p=0.004) and TRMVD (p=0.024) were independently associated with survival for patients with APTT≥28.5 s. TRMVD had the second highest HR. Conclusion TR positivity in VECs may be an adverse prognostic factor for patients with ESCC and increased coagulation state. TR expression in VECs might be related to angiogenesis in ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several researchers have investigated the effects of computer simulations on students' learning. However, few have focused on how simulations with authentic contexts influences students' inquiry skills. Therefore, for the purposes of this study, we developed a computer simulation (FossilSim) embedded in an authentic inquiry lesson. FossilSim integrated data from real field investigations with geological laws for identifying the sequence of geological events. Data were collected from two experiments to examine ninth graders' abilities for reconstructing a sequence of geological events with the aid of FossilSim. The sample groups in Experiments 1 and 2 were 58 and 11 ninth graders, respectively. The results indicated that the authentic inquiry lesson promoted the development of students' inquiry skills. In addition, FossilSim played a key role in engaging students to apply geological laws, make multi-scale observations, and clarify their ideas about geological time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Six coordination polymers from reduced Schiff base ligands, namely, [Zn(L1)2]·2H2O (1), [Ni(L1)2]·2H2O (2), [Ni(L1)2(H2O)2] (3), [Zn(L2)2]·H2O (4), [Ni(L2)2]·0.5H2O (5), and [Co(L2)2(HL2)] (6) (HL1 =4-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)benzoic acid, HL2 =3-((4-pyridinylmethyl)amino)benzoic acid) have been obtained by hydrothermal method and studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural while compounds 4 and 5 also are isostructural. All these four compounds exhibit a 2D layer structure. Compound 2 is isomeric to 3 but has a chain structure. Compound 6 also exhibits a chain structure. The photoluminescence properties of compounds 1 and 4 were studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sulfide is an important water pollutant widely found in industrial waste water that has attracted much attention. S2-, as a weak acidic anion, is easy hydrolyzed to HS- and H2S in aqueous solution. In this study, biological tests were performed to establish the toxicity of sulfide solutions on luminescent bacteria. Considering the sulfide solution was contained three substances-S2-, HS- and H2S-the toxicity test was performed at different pH values to investigate which form of sulfide increased light emission and which reduced light emission. It was shown that the EC50 values were close at pH 7.4, 8.0 and 9.0 which were higher than pH 5 and 10. The light emission and sulfide concentrations displayed an inverse exponential dose-response relationship within a certain concentration range at pH 5, 6.5 and 10. The same phenomenon occurred for the high concentration of sulfide at pH 7.4, 8 and 9, in which the concentration of sulfide was HS- >> H2S > S2-. An opposite hormesis-effect appeared at the low concentrations of sulfide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]