Search

Developing a nursing undergraduate blended teaching quality evaluation tool based on the Context, Input, Process and Product model and evaluating its reliability and validity. Blended teaching is a commonly used teaching method in medical education, but there are limited tools available to effectively measure the quality of blended teaching. A Delphi study and cross-sectional study. Using the Context, Input, Process and Product model as the theoretical framework, a questionnaire was developed through literature review, expert consultation and pre-survey. From April to July 2023, 448 students from a certain university were selected as the research subjects and the questionnaire was examined for reliability and validity through a survey method. The blended teaching quality evaluation scale with 35 items includes four dimensions Context, Input, Process and Product. The content validity and reliability of the blended teaching quality evaluation scale are both good, with a content validity index of 0.934 for the total scale and a content validity index of 0.750–1.00 for each item. The SEM shows that χ2/df = 6.89, RMSEA = 0.115, CFI = 0.882, NFI=0.865, RFI= 0.855, IFI = 0.882, TLI = 0.873. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the total scale is 0.991 and the Cronbach's α coefficient for each dimension is 0.944–0.984. The scale is based on the characteristics of blended learning and quality evaluation covers all aspects of teaching. It can accurately evaluate the quality of teaching, evaluate the problems in the teaching process based on the teaching quality score and propose reasonable teaching improvement suggestions based on the weak links in the teaching process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop and validate a scientific and standardized knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire of pediatric nurses' preventive care for central venous device-related thrombosis among hospitalized children. Pediatric nurses play a significant role in the prevention of central venous device-related thrombosis for hospialized children. However, the status of pediatric nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice of central venous device-related thrombosis prevention has not been revealed due to the lack of assessment tools. This questionnaire was framed by the theory of knowledge, attitude and practice. The item pool was compiled through a literature review and a preliminary questionnaire was formed based on expert consultation. A total of 457 pediatric nurses from 10 tertiary class A general hospitals and specialized pediatric hospitals in China were selected for pre-survey. Item analysis, reliability and validity test were conducted to refine and evaluate the items to form a formal questionnaire. A total of 54 items were proposed in three dimensions of knowledge, attitude and practice. In the exploratory factor analysis, five, three and three common factors were extracted for each dimension, accounting for 60.552%, 89.829% and 84.258% of the total variance, respectively. The content validity index of the three dimensions ranged from 0.968 to 1.000 at the scale level and from 0.833 to 1.000 at the item level. The Cronbach's α coefficients for the total questionnaire and each dimension were between 0.926 and 0.973. The retest reliability for the total questionnaire and each dimension was between 0.688 and 0.898. The proposed questionnaire has good reliability and validity and it can be applied to evaluate pediatric nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice in preventing central venous device-related thrombosis for hospitalized children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low carbon steel with 2% pre-strained had the strain aging treatment in different baking time at 170°C. The stress-strain curves, bake hardening (BH) value and internal friction-temperature spectrum of tested steels were studied by tensile test and internal friction. The Harper aging kinetic equation respectively using the parameters of BH value, yield point elongation (YPE) or Snoek-Ke-Koster (SKK) peak height was established. The results show that with the increase of aging time, the yield point elongation and BH value of tested steel increases, and then the stress-strain curve of the steel become from continuous yield to discontinuous yield. In the internal friction-temperature curve, the Snoek peak height decreases, the SKK peak height continuously increases, and peak temperature changes slightly. It indicates that the primary mechanism of age hardening is Cottrell atmosphere hardening. The time index n in the Harper aging kinetic equation fitted by the BH value, YPE and SKK peak height were 0.53, 0.59 and 0.59, respectively. The linear relationship of BH value and SKK peak is BH=17119•h SKK -33. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes of microstructure during the process of tempering transformation were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction and internal friction (IF) for low carbon bainite steel. The yield strength of the steel was tested after tempering transformation. The results showed that the microstructures of the experimental steel in rolled state were composed of lath bainite and granular bainite with a little Mo 2 C and NbC precipitates. The lath width of bainite increased continuously with the tempering time. More cell structures with different orientations were formed in bainite laths. Furthermore, poly-gonization gradually began in some laths. The microstructure of granular bainite increased and was coarsened when it devoured the lath bainite continuously. The dislocation density of the bainitic ferrite decreased continuously as Mo 2 C and NbC precipitations were further increasing. The peak value of Snoek decreased continuously in internal friction-temperature spectrum. The peak value of SKK at the surface decreased at first and then increased. The peak value of SKK at the center decreased firstly and then had little change. Besides, the yield strength of the steel increased firstly and then decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the impact of national eco-industrial parks (EIPs) on green technological progress is assessed, with a focus on Chinese cities. Staggered difference-in-differences is used to analyze panel data from 314 prefecture-level cities in China from 2002 to 2017, and the results show that EIPs significantly increase green technological progress. Various robustness checks, including the use of event study, Oster omitted variable detection, and relevant city slope as instruments, corroborated the robustness of this finding. The research expenditure intensity, scale agglomeration level, and industrial structure optimization are channels with which EIPs stimulate green technological progress. Further, it is demonstrated that heterogeneity (with an inverted U-shape) exists between the green innovation effect of EIPs and the city scale. • We estimate the causality between EIPs and green technological progress in China. • Oster detection, and IVs are used to ensure the validity of staggered DID. • EIPs significantly promote the green technological progress in the pilot cities. • Research expenditure, scale aggregation and industrial structure are channels. • Heterogeneity exists between the green innovation of EIPs and the city scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editors-in-Chief. After a thorough investigation, the Editors have concluded that the acceptance of this article was partly based upon the positive advice of one illegitimate reviewer report. The report was submitted from an email account which was provided to the journal as a suggested reviewer during the submission of the article. Although purportedly a real reviewer account, the Editors have concluded that this was not of an appropriate, independent reviewer. This manipulation of the peer-review process represents a clear violation of the fundamentals of peer review, our publishing policies, and publishing ethics standards. Apologies are offered to the reviewer whose identity was assumed and to the readers of the journal that this deception was not detected during the submission process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel targeted cancer therapies, especially kinase inhibitors, have revolutionized the treatment of many cancers and have dramatically improved the survival of several types of malignancies. Because kinases not only are important in cancer development and progression, but also play a critical role in the cardiovascular (CV) system and metabolic homeostasis, important CV and metabolic sequelae have been associated with several types of kinase inhibitors. This paper reviews the incidences and highlights potential mechanisms of vascular and metabolic perturbations associated with 3 classes of commonly used kinase inhibitors that target the vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway, the ABL kinase, and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. We propose preventive, screening, monitoring, and management strategies for CV care of patients treated with these novel agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• University education and future income are significantly connected with creativity and critical thinking. • Students who developed and used creativity and critical thinking skills in the process of education had bigger success in future work, which influenced their income. • The quality of university training is reflected in the personal income of graduates and can be objectively assessed by this criterion. • The size of a graduate's income may also depend on his/her age. The problem of students' income is characterized by relevance taking into account the fact that its level depends on the level of the development of professional competencies that are necessary in modern world according to the quick improvement of technological process. The role of modern skills of creativity and critical thinking in the process of obtaining education and future income is determined. The study included 3 500 graduates of 28 selected universities, united into 280 homogeneous groups, which were examined through big data analysis. According to a survey conducted in the first stage before studying under the developed program, only 35% of students rated their level of creativity as high, with 40% having an average level of creativity and 25% of respondents having a low level of creativity, indicating a lack of tasks for development of this professional skill in the curriculum. The received answers show that the most developed critical thinking skills are problem-solving (82%) and analysis (73%). The results of the survey showed that teachers still use traditional teaching methods, as evidenced by the indicators of tasks to improve skills of creativity and critical thinking, as dominated by «reading and learning new things» (37%), «comprehension and analysis of information» (33%). The second stage of the experiment presupposed studying under the developed program consisting of two thematic modules. The purpose of this program was to develop the level of students' creativity and critical thinking skills and determine the influence of them on the students' income. The results of the re-survey show the increasing of the level of students' income as well as in 6 universities, at least one group of respondents had earnings of more than 20 thousand yuan/month, while only one university had 5 groups where incomes of all participants exceeded 20 thousand yuan/month. Compared with the results of the first survey after the studying of the developed program, the indicators of the development of critical thinking skills according to the results of the re-survey increased, the percentage of which is represented by the following indicators: problem-solving (92%), analysis (85%), interpretation (75%), inference (80%), explanation (74%), open-mindedness (63%), self-regulation (66%). The results of the repeated survey on student income proved the effectiveness of training according to the developed curriculum, as evidenced by the obtained indicators of student income levels: the high level (21%), average (25%), below average (25%), above average (10%)), low (5%) and those who do not work (4%). The results of the research can be applied for a more in-depth study of temporal correlations in income fluctuations among graduates of an educational institution. Moreover, the gained outcomes can contribute to the identification of patterns to create a model for determining the quality of education in universities and colleges, in particular, the development of curricula and programs to take into account the work on improving the practical skills of creativity and critical thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal oxide semiconductors (MOSs) are widely used gas-sensing materials because of their large response values and fast response speed. However, high operating temperature hinders the development of MOS-based gas sensors. To detect SF 6 decomposition components (including H 2 S, SO 2 , SOF 2 , and SO 2 F 2), here, we have synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 NPs) via a facile hydrothermal routine, followed by functionalization with Au, Ag, and Pd noble metals to improve sensor performance. Our developed CeO 2 -based sensor exhibited high response to target gases at a low working temperature. After doping various metals into the CeO 2 NPs, we acquired distinct patterns of dynamic responses for SF 6 decomposition components. Au functionalization could maximize the enhancements of sensor responses to H 2 S (976%), SO 2 (153%), and SOF 2 (151%) at 100 °C, and a Pd-modified CeO 2 -based sensor exhibited optimal response to SO 2 F 2 at a relatively high temperature of 250 °C. In addition, high response values, short response–recovery times, good repeatability, and low detection limits were also obtained from CeO 2 -based sensors. Our results verified that doping different noble metals into CeO 2 NPs should be a promising strategy to design high-performance gas sensors for SF 6 decomposition component detection. Unlabelled Image • Pristine and Au, Ag, Pd functionalized cerium oxide nanoparticles are synthesized via a hydrothermal method. • The responses of Au-CeO 2 to H 2 S, SO 2 and SOF 2 are improved to 976%, 153% and 151% at 100 °C. • Pd-CeO 2 nanoparticles express the largest surface area (76.031 m2/g), and show best response to SO 2 F 2. • The prepared CeO 2 -based sensors present short response time (~1 min) and low detection limits (under 0.5 ppm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The electropolymerization of thionine with the guidance of DNA molecular template was described in this paper. The prepared polythionine (PTH) dispersed uniformly on the electrode surface and presented a novel flexual nanostrip morphology with the average diameter of 90nm and length of 500nm. However, PTH fabricated without DNA-guided electropolymerization presented a clustered granular morphology. The electrochemical redox behavior of PTH via DNA-guided electropolymerization was considerably enhanced compared to that of PTH without DNA molecular template. The significant improvement of the redox property might be attributed to the in situ PTH chains growth along DNA strands. In neutral environment, the PTH/DNA on the carbon paste electrode showed a pair of well-defined redox peaks and excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of H2O2. Under optimal conditions, H2O2 was amperometrically determined by using the as-prepared PTH/DNA nanostrips in the concentration range of 0.99–8.26mM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The detection of DNA damage is one of the most important topics in the DNA research fields. In the present work, oppositely charged natural dsDNA and poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA) were assembled into (PDDA/dsDNA)3 layer-by-layer films on electrode surface, and Ru(bpy)3 2+ and Co(phen)3 3+ in solution were used as electroactive probes to detect oxidative damage of natural dsDNA in the films after incubation of the films in V2O5 nanobelts/HCl/H2O2 solution. The mechanism of DNA oxidative damage caused by the V2O5 nanobelts/HCl/H2O2 system was similar to that of Fenton-type reaction. The reaction of V2O5 nanobelts with HCl would produce V(IV), and the produced V(IV) would further react with H2O2, generating hydroxyl radicals (OHhe Fenton-type reaction, which could severely damage DNA in the films. The present work provided an in vitro model system to mimic the pathway of DNA damage in real bioprocess through a simple electrochemical approach combined with layer-by-layer assembly. This approach also showed promising applications in rapid and sensitive screening of new nanomaterials and chemicals in vitro for their potential genotoxicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The evaluation of the service value of coastal wetland ecosystem is of great significance for the scientific development and effective utilization of coastal wetland resources. It has been proved that the addition of attribute cut-offs in the choice experiment (CE) evaluation framework improves the validity of evaluation results. However, whether this improvement is due to the improvement of the questionnaire or the improvement of the utility equation cannot be distinguished with this framework. In this study, the modified selection model with cut-off is used to assess the two key elements of the modified selection model that differ from the traditional model. These are the CE questionnaire that leads to cut-off and the CE utility equation that incorporates cut-off. Each element pair is analyzed separately. Both are utilized to evaluate the impact of the validity of the results, and quantitatively evaluate the service value of the mangrove wetland ecosystem in the Beibu Gulf region, Guangxi, China. The results showed that: In 2021, the total value of mangrove wetland ecosystem services in the Beibu Gulf region was 1.181 billion yuan. In the modified CE model, both the improvement of the questionnaire and the improvement of the utility equation contribute to the improvement of the validity of the evaluation results; their contribution degree is equal. Regarding the choice model, based on the correction, the public's willingness to pay per capita values for strengthening the protection of mangroves are (in order): the improvement of biodiversity, mangrove forest coverage, water quality, and the appreciation of the landscape. Related values are 53.89 yuan, 47.00 yuan, 35.46 yuan, and 17.29 yuan, respectively. The results provide a scientific basis for the formulation of ecological management policies of coastal wetlands by the government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The enzyme gave a single band in SDS-PAGE and BD-SDS-PAGE. [•] 10mM Co2+ enhanced dextranase activity for 196%. [•] The enzyme maintained more than 60% activity at 60°C for 1h. [•] The purified fold and yield were higher than reported with similar process. [•] The enzyme had obvious effect on S. mutans biofilm and mixed-species oral biofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]