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Purpose Learning style differs among students; 4 were identified by David A. Kolb (1984). Learning style identification plays a vital role in enhancing learning performance in response to choice of approaches to engaging students, particularly for Problem-based learning (PBL) methods used in Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy. This research aimed to identify the learning styles of those students responding to PBL packages and investigate relationships between their learning styles and academic performance. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted nursing students (N=135) who engaged with PBL packages in the subject Fundamental Nursing 3 in the second semester of the academic year 2016-2017. A questionnaire consisted of items on general characteristics, a learning style scale (Kolb LSI 3.1), and details around academic performance. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 22.0 program. Results The findings indicated that the diverging is the descriptor of the preferred learning style of 43.7% nursing students; 24.4% represented the converging style; the accommodating style accounted for 18.5% and assimilating style was 13.3%. Our study had not yet found the effect of learning methods on the academic performance of nursing students (toward Formative result: F=0.872, p=0.235; toward Summative result: F=1.116, p=0.345). Conclusion A majority of nursing students chose the diverging learning style over others but there was no significant difference between academic performance and learning styles. Therefore, teachers should be flexible and use different stimuli for learning in order to attempt to engage learners in stimuli for learning about different situations, irrespective of their preferred style for learning. It is important to provide optimal learning environments for most students.

Le lycée bilingue franco-finlandais d’Helsinki et le lycée bilingue franco-turc Saint Benoît à Istanbul développent depuis l’année scolaire 2015-2016 une coopération pédagogique à distance sur la thématique du conte avec le support des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication pour l’Enseignement (TICE). A l’issue de deux années de collaboration numérique et forts des résultats d’une enquête réalisée auprès ades élèves turcs et finlandais, l’objectif sera d’analyser en quoi un projet collaboratif numérique, ici axé sur le conte, apporte de nouvelles dimensions à l’acquisition de la compétence interculturelle dans un contexte bilingue.

This study aims to evaluate the radioprotective effects of liposomes encapsulating curcumin (Lip-CUR), silibinin (Lip-SIL), a-tocopherol (Lip-TOC), quercetin (Lip-QUE) and resveratrol (Lip-RES) in alleviating the adverse effects of ionising irradiation on human lymphoctyes and skin cells in radiotherapy. Liposomes encapsulating the above natural radioprotectants (Lip-NRPs) were prepared by the film hydration method combined with sonication. Their radioprotective effects for the cells against X-irradiation was evaluated using trypan-blue assay and γ-H2AX assay. All prepared Lip-NRPs had a mean diameter less than 240 nm, polydispersity index less than 0.32, and zeta potential more than -23 mV. Among them, the radioprotective effect of Lip-RES was lowest, while that of Lip-QUE was highest. Lip-SIL also exhibited a high radioprotective effect despite its low DPPH-radical scavenging activity (12.9%). The radioprotective effects of Lip-NRPs do not solely depend on the free radical scavenging activity of NRPs but also on their ability to activate cellular mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C13H14N2O7U, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 8.6855(14) Å, b = 11.982(2) Å, c = 14.953(2) Å, β = 94.557(5)°, V = 1,551.3(4) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0559, wR ref (F 2) = 0.1081, T = 150(2) K

Water quality (WQ) pollution is a matter of concern to everyone, and it is necessary to take remedial measures to protect human life. This paper presents the assessment of surface WQ through the Water Quality Index (WQI) followed by the Vietnam Standard QCVN 08-MT:2015/ BTNMT combined with satellite data for the Dau Tieng reservoir. The implementation method is based on the correlation of each WQ indicator with the spectral features of satellite images to build a regression function, simulating the spatial distribution of the entire reservoir. The Sentinel2A satellite images were used with reflective bands in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectrum region. The regression functions showed that the correlation of the WQ indicators was related to single bands, and the band ratios include blue and NIR, red/blue, green/blue, and NIR/blue bands. Simulation results of the WQI spatial distribution expressed that the WQ of the Dau Tieng reservoir was in a polluted state at the level of WQI fluctuation in the range of 0–50 for the most part. Dau Tieng irrigation system plays a vital role in the water distribution system for Tay Ninh province and the southern key economic region. Therefore, appropriate treatment measures should be taken if it needs to be used for domestic water supply purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-based tourism (CBT) is a well-established type of tourism in many countries around the world, including Vietnam. Despite its potential, the development of CBT in the Cham community in Ninh Thuan province has yet to reach its full potential due to the rich and diverse tourism resources in the area. This study aims to assess the needs for CBT development in the Cham community of Ninh Thuan from the perspectives of local stakeholders. The research method used a mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative data collection, including field surveys, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires, with a focus on the Cham community and local authorities. The findings indicate that the Cham community's cultural resources have great potential for CBT development and that the community is eager to participate in tourism activities. However, several key barriers, such as the lack of technical facilities, limited participation from local authorities, and insufficient knowledge, skills, and finance, prevent the community from participating in tourism activities. Thus, it is necessary for authorities to implement policies to improve tourism facilities, enhance tourism promotion, and support the community to participate in these activities. These recommendations will help to enhance the development of CBT in Ninh Thuan in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manipulation of vector optical fields in three-dimensional (3D) space plays a vital role in both fundamental research and practical implementations of polarization optics. However, existing studies mostly focus on 3D vector optical fields with limited modes. Here, an approach of spin-decoupled spatial partitioning is proposed to generate complex 3D vector optical fields with a customizable number of modes on demand. The crosstalk among different modes is effectively suppressed by the decoupling capability of asymmetric photonic spin–orbit interactions (PSOIs) and the design of region displacement for opposite spin states. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, a metasurface is designed to generate longitudinally varying high-order cylindrical vector fields, ranging from the 2nd to the 10th order in even sequences along the propagation direction. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of our approach to enabling precise control of 3D vector optical fields with arbitrary mode combinations. This work holds promising applications in biophotonics, quantum optics, and communications.

[Objective] To study the physiological response of sunflowers to broomrape parasitism and the related metabolic pathways, as well as understanding the molecular mechanism of sunflower resistance to broomrape parasitism. [Methods] The broomrape-resisant (s41) and -sensitive (s26) sunflowers were used as the testing materials. Transcriptome analysis of 4 samples under the condition of parasitic stress was carried out, and physiological verification analysis of key metabolites was carried out. [Results] (1) Under inoculation, the plant height and root number of susceptible materials were affected significantly, and some of them were even unearthed, while the resistant materials had no obvious changes, and only a few were parasitized. (2) The number of DEGs was 6 362, 6 609, 5 490 and 5 469 by screening the differential genes among the samples. GO analysis showed that the four comparison groups, namely s26-s41, s26CK-s41CK, s26-s26CK, and s41-s41CK, had the most differential genes in biological processes, followed by cellular components, and less in molecular functions. KEGG analysis showed that infection had a great influence on plant signal transduction, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and sugar metabolism in sunflowers. (3) Physiological analyses found that the phenylalanine deaminase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, glutathione, total phenols, and salicylic acid showed an upward trend, indicating that the stress tolerant system was activated under parasitism. However, the trend of the physiological indicators of the sensitive and tolerant materials were different. Also, the genes controlling the physiological responses were differentially expressed. [Conclusion] It was found that inoculation with broomrape significantly affected the plant height and root volume of the susceptible materials, while the resistant materials were not affected. The resistant materials were enhanced in root lignin synthesis, antioxidant enzyme activity, and the expression of key genes of phenylpropanoid metabolism, salicylic acid and signaling pathway, and hence increased the resistance to broomrape.

Abstract The E3 ubiquitin ligase RING finger protein 115 (RNF115), also known as breast cancer-associated gene 2 (BCA2), has been linked with the growth of some cancers and immune regulation, which is negatively correlated with prognosis. Here, it is demonstrated that the RNF115 deletion can protect mice from acute liver injury (ALI) induced by the treatment of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GalN), as evidenced by decreased levels of alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate transaminase, inflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6), chemokines (e.g., MCP1/CCL2) and inflammatory cell (e.g., monocytes and neutrophils) infiltration. Moreover, it was found that the autophagy activity in Rnf115 −/− livers was increased, which resulted in the removal of damaged mitochondria and hepatocyte apoptosis. However, the administration of adeno-associated virus Rnf115 or autophagy inhibitor 3-MA impaired autophagy and aggravated liver injury in Rnf115 −/− mice with ALI. Further experiments proved that RNF115 interacts with LC3B, downregulates LC3B protein levels and cell autophagy. Additionally, Rnf115 deletion inhibited M1 type macrophage activation via NF-κB and Jnk signaling pathways. Elimination of macrophages narrowed the difference in liver damage between Rnf115 +/+ and Rnf115 −/− mice, indicating that macrophages were linked in the ALI induced by LPS/D-GalN. Collectively, for the first time, we have proved that Rnf115 inactivation ameliorated LPS/D-GalN-induced ALI in mice by promoting autophagy and attenuating inflammatory responses. This study provides new evidence for the involvement of autophagy mechanisms in the protection against acute liver injury.

[Significance]As the research focus of future agricultural machinery, agricultural wheeled robots are developing in the direction of intelligence and multi-functionality. Advanced environmental perception technologies serve as a crucial foundation and key components to promote intelligent operations of agricultural wheeled robots. However, considering the non-structured and complex environments in agricultural on-field operational processes, the environmental information obtained through conventional 2D perception technologies is limited. Therefore, 3D environmental perception technologies are highlighted as they can provide more dimensional information such as depth, among others, thereby directly enhancing the precision and efficiency of unmanned agricultural machinery operation. This paper aims to provide a detailed analysis and summary of 3D environmental perception technologies, investigate the issues in the development of agricultural environmental perception technologies, and clarify the future key development directions of 3D environmental perception technologies regarding agricultural machinery, especially the agricultural wheeled robot.[Progress]Firstly, an overview of the general status of wheeled robots was introduced, considering their dominant influence in environmental perception technologies. It was concluded that multi-wheel robots, especially four-wheel robots, were more suitable for the agricultural environment due to their favorable adaptability and robustness in various agricultural scenarios. In recent years, multi-wheel agricultural robots have gained widespread adoption and application globally. The further improvement of the universality, operation efficiency, and intelligence of agricultural wheeled robots is determined by the employed perception systems and control systems. Therefore, agricultural wheeled robots equipped with novel 3D environmental perception technologies can obtain high-dimensional environmental information, which is significant for improving the accuracy of decision-making and control. Moreover, it enables them to explore effective ways to address the challenges in intelligent environmental perception technology. Secondly, the recent development status of 3D environmental perception technologies in the agriculture field was briefly reviewed. Meanwhile, sensing equipment and the corresponding key technologies were also introduced. For the wheeled robots reported in the agriculture area, it was noted that the applied technologies of environmental perception, in terms of the primary employed sensor solutions, were divided into three categories: LiDAR, vision sensors, and multi-sensor fusion-based solutions. Multi-line LiDAR had better performance on many tasks when employing point cloud processing algorithms. Compared with LiDAR, depth cameras such as binocular cameras, TOF cameras, and structured light cameras have been comprehensively investigated for their application in agricultural robots. Depth camera-based perception systems have shown superiority in cost and providing abundant point cloud information. This study has investigated and summarized the latest research on 3D environmental perception technologies employed by wheeled robots in agricultural machinery. In the reported application scenarios of agricultural environmental perception, the state-of-the-art 3D environmental perception approaches have mainly focused on obstacle recognition, path recognition, and plant phenotyping. 3D environmental perception technologies have the potential to enhance the ability of agricultural robot systems to understand and adapt to the complex, unstructured agricultural environment. Furthermore, they can effectively address several challenges that traditional environmental perception technologies have struggled to overcome, such as partial sensor information loss, adverse weather conditions, and poor lighting conditions. Current research results have indicated that multi-sensor fusion-based 3D environmental perception systems outperform single-sensor-based systems. This superiority arises from the amalgamation of advantages from various sensors, which concurrently serve to mitigate individual shortcomings.[Conclusions and Prospects]The potential of 3D environmental perception technology for agricultural wheeled robots was discussed in light of the evolving demands of smart agriculture. Suggestions were made to improve sensor applicability, develop deep learning-based agricultural environmental perception technology, and explore intelligent high-speed online multi-sensor fusion strategies. Currently, the employed sensors in agricultural wheeled robots may not fully meet practical requirements, and the system's cost remains a barrier to widespread deployment of 3D environmental perception technologies in agriculture. Therefore, there is an urgent need to enhance the agricultural applicability of 3D sensors and reduce production costs. Deep learning methods were highlighted as a powerful tool for processing information obtained from 3D environmental perception sensors, improving response speed and accuracy. However, the limited datasets in the agriculture field remain a key issue that needs to be addressed. Additionally, multi-sensor fusion has been recognized for its potential to enhance perception performance in complex and changeable environments. As a result, it is clear that 3D environmental perception technology based on multi-sensor fusion is the future development direction of smart agriculture. To overcome challenges such as slow data processing speed, delayed processed data, and limited memory space for storing data, it is essential to investigate effective fusion schemes to achieve online multi-source information fusion with greater intelligence and speed.

We report on an outbreak of nongroupable Neisseria meningitidis–associated urethritis, primarily among men who have sex with men in southern Vietnam. Nearly 50% of N. meningitidis isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. This emerging pathogen should be considered in the differential diagnosis and management of urethritis.

Circular RNA (circRNA) is involved in tumor progression. CircPVT1 is an oncogene that is abnormally expressed and correlated with a variety of tumors. It can regulate tumors' malignant behavior and affect the survival and prognosis of patients. This article reviews research on the regulatory roles of circPVT1 in tumors to provide references for accurate treatment.

The ergosterol from mushrooms has gained significant ethnopharmacological importance in various cultures, including China, Japan, and Europe. This compound has been found to possess immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful in the treatment of immune disorders. In this study, we focused on investigating the potential anticancer properties of ergosterol isolated from the edible mushroom Leucocalocybe mongolica in breast cancer cell lines. The ergosterol was purified and identified using advanced analytical techniques such as ESI-MS and NMR. We conducted cell proliferation assays on 4 T1 breast cancer cells to assess the cytotoxic effects of ergosterol. Furthermore, we analyzed the transcription levels of BAX, caspase-7, BCL-2, STAT-3, and PARP proteins using real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. Additionally, we employed non-targeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to study the potential mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of ergosterol at the metabolomics level. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in cell viability and the induction of apoptosis upon treatment with ergosterol, especially at higher concentrations (P

Nitrogen oxides in industrial flue gas are an important cause of environmental pollution. Non-thermal plasma technology is widely used to remove pollutants in flue gas, based on the oxidation of active particles. In this paper, a dielectric barrier discharge plasma generation system was designed and the oxidation of NO by non-thermal plasma was investigated, focusing on the effects of specific energy density (SED) and oxygen content. The results showed that when SED increased from 960 J/ L to 1920 J/L, the conversion efficiency of NO decreased. At the same time, the decrease of oxygen concentration promoted the conversion of NO. In combination with the oxidation catalyst, NO conversion could be dramatically promoted. A 500 m^3/h pilot-scale device was designed according to the laboratory results. The test was carried out in an industrial silicon submerged arc furnace. The results showed that NO could be completely converted with inlet NO volume fraction of 0~0.005%. The generated NO_2 was adsorbed on the surface of the catalytic material initially and gradually desorbed with the proceeding of the reaction. For inlet NO volume fraction of 0.005%~0.025%, the average outlet NO concentration was 0.001%(volume fraction). The above results confirmed the feasibility of NO conversion employing non-thermal plasma coupled with the catalyst.

Objective: This study aimed to help with determination of optimal raw materials for squid surimi products. Methods: The differences in gel strength, water-holding capacity, cooking loss, rheological properties and chemical interaction force of surimi gels, obtained from three species of squid, were evaluated. Results: The gel strength and water-holding capacity of the three species of surimi gel were in descending order as follows: Illex argentinus>Dosidicus gigas>Ommastephes bartrami, while the cooking loss was the opposite. The dynamic rheological temperature scan showed that the energy storage modulus(G′) of the three kinds of surimi decreased with temperature to a minimum value of 45 ℃, then increased to a maximum value of 75 ℃ and decreased again. The G′ of Illex argentinus surimi was higher than the other two kinds of squids when the second stage heating at 90 ℃.The ionic bonding, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions of Illex argentinus surimi gel were significantly stronger than the other two kinds of squids. Conclusion: Illex argentinus surimi is the best raw material for squid surimi products; and the production needs to use auxiliary means to improve the gel quality according to the different characteristics of the three kinds of squid surimi.

To explore the strength characteristics of anisotropic rocks caused by mineral directional arrangement during progressive failure process, biotite quartz schist was taken as an example, and triaxial compression tests were carried out on samples with schistosity angles of 0°, 45° and 90°. The macro and micro failure characteristics and progressive failure strength index of the specimens were analyzed, and the differences with other types of anisotropic rock were discussed. The results show that the failure characteristics of biotite quartz schist are closely related to its schistosity. With the schistosity angle increasing from 0° to 90°, the main macro and micro fracture modes of the specimens change from tensile to shear, and then to co-existence of tensile and shear. The strength characteristic values of biotite quartz schist show significant anisotropy. With the increase of schistosity angle, the strengthening effect caused by confining pressure increase on the strength characteristic values weakens, but the change of the strength value has a trend of acceleration. The anisotropic variation law of the ratio of strength characteristic value is not obvious, which gradually weakens and even disappears under high confining pressure. The fracture modes, variations of strength characteristic values and their ratios of anisotropic rocks with directional arrangement of minerals are different from those of rocks with stratified structure. A thorough understanding of the mechanical properties of rocks with directional arrangement of minerals will be helpful to guide the related engineering practice.

Under the background of “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutralization”, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG; particularly, CO2, CH4, and N2O) emissions from sludge treatment and disposal is of great significance for realizing the global net zero emission of GHG. This study identifies carbon emission scenarios and abatement measures for different sludge treatment and disposal processes.

Abstract Background Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is one of the most frequent indications for spine surgery. Open decompression and fusion surgery was the most common treatment and used to be regarded as the golden standard treatment for LSS. In recent years, percutaneous endoscopic decompression surgery was also used for LSS. However, the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous endoscopic decompression in the treatment of LSS have not been supported by high-level evidence. Our aim is to 1) compare the effectiveness of percutaneous endoscopic decompression surgery and open decompression and fusion for the treatment of LSS. 2) Investigate the prognosis risk factors for LSS. 3) Evaluate the influence of percutaneous endoscopic decompression for the stability of operative level, and degeneration of adjacent level. Methods It’s a prospective, multicenter cohort study. The study is performed at 4 centers in Beijing. This study plans to enroll 600 LSS patients (300 patients in the percutaneous endoscopic decompression group, and 300 patients in the open decompression and fusion group). The demographic variables, healthcare variables, symptom related variables, clinical assessment (Visual analogue score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (JOA)), and radiological assessment (dynamic X-ray, CT, MRI) will be collected at baseline visit. Patients will follow up at 3, 6, 12 months. The primary outcome is the difference of improvement of ODI between baseline and 12-month follow-up between the two groups. The secondary outcome is the score changes of preoperative and postoperative VAS, the recovery rate of JOA, MacNab criteria, patient satisfaction, degeneration grade of adjacent level, ROM of operative level and adjacent level, complication rate. Discussion In this study, we propose to conduct a prospective registry study to address the major controversies of LSS decompression under percutaneous spinal endoscopy, and investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of percutaneous endoscopic decompression and open decompression in the treatment of LSS. Trial registration This study has been registered on clinicaltrials.gov in January 15, 2020 ( NCT04254757 ). (SPIRIT 2a).

The effects of different exogenous additives and new auxiliary processing technologies on the energy storage and loss modulus of surimi gel process were reviewed. From the perspective of dynamic rheology, the formation mechanism of surimi gel was expounded, and the potential of auxiliary processing technologies and new external additives in improving surimi gel properties and texture of low-salt surimi products was prospected.

Among 114 clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates collected in Vietnam during 2019–2020, we detected 15 of subclone sequence type 13871 of the FC428 clonal complex. Fourteen sequence type 13871 isolates with mosaic penA allele 60.001 were ceftriaxone or cefixime nonsusceptible, and 3/14 were azithromycin nonsusceptible. Emergence of this subclone threatens treatment effectiveness.

Background: We aimed to investigate the expression of Klotho gene in peripheral blood of patients with cerebral infarction (CI) and the association of its polymorphisms with the occurrence of CI. Methods: A total of 60 CI patients (CI group) and 20 healthy people receiving physical examination (control group) were enrolled as the research subjects. The expression of Klotho gene in CI group and control group was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs192031, rs200131 and rs102312) in the promoter region of the Klotho gene were typed via conformational difference gel electrophoresis. Besides, whether the distribution frequencies of Klotho genotypes conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evaluated by chi-square test. Meanwhile, the associations of Klotho alleles and gene polymorphisms with CI occurrence were analyzed. Results: The protein expression level of Klotho in the peripheral blood was remarkably lower in patients in CI group than that in control group (P0.05). Gene-based association analysis manifested that only rs192031 polymorphism and alleles were correlated with CI occurrence (P0.05). Conclusions: The expression level of Klotho is evidently reduced in the peripheral blood of CI patients. Rs192031 in the promoter region of the Klotho gene is associated with the occurrence of CI, while rs200131 and rs102312 have no relations with CI.

The combined effects of human exposure to chemical mixtures have attracted the attention of government agencies in many countries. Many institutions have carried out a lot of research on the cumulative exposure assessment of the combined effects of chemical mixtures. This article outlines the principles and standards for grouping chemicals with a common action mechanism in the cumulative exposure risk assessment of chemicals, and based on the types of combined effects of chemicals and their judgment method, expounds the Hazard Index method, Cumulative Risk Index method, Relative Potency Factor method, Point of Departure method, combined Margin of Exposure method, reaction addition method based on independent reaction, and hazard index correction method based on interaction, etc. In addition, in the exposure assessment of compound mixtures, the accuracy of physiologically-based toxicokinetic model method and conventional assessment method are analyzed, and a new direction for exploration is proposed for more accurate and scientific assessments in China in the future.

If the study of Jesse Fewkes and Frances Densmore in the late 19th century is taken into account, western Applied Ethnomusicology is entering its second century. After more than one hundred years of development, Applied Ethnomusicology has basically become a relatively mature research path in the West, which not only provides scholars with a new research perspective but also enriches the subject connotation of Ethnomusicology to a certain extent with its research philosophy and value pursuit. In China, Applied Ethnomusicology has attracted more and more attention. Therefore, reviewing the development history of the discipline is not only conducive to clarifying the development context of the discipline but also conducive to reflecting on the current problems and better grasping the development trend of the discipline. In the first part of this paper, the factors influencing the birth and development of applied ethnomusicology are further discussed from within and outside the discipline, respectively based on consulting relevant literature and briefly summarizing the existing discussions of scholars. The second part mainly discusses the research characteristics of Applied Ethnomusicology, such as "pragmatic orientation", "change of researcher's identity", and "emphasis on intervention and intervention". The third part of the Applied Ethnomusicology on the "intervention", "the definition of" discipline "and the edge of two issues are discussed.

Effectively suppressing the hyperactivated inflammatory response is a critical strategy for treating inflammatory diseases, such as spinal cord injury (SCI) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Suitable anti-inflammatory drug delivery vehicles need to be continuously explored and discovered to achieve this goal. In this work, we designed M2 macrophage-derived engineered exosomes with a particle size of about 124 nm. Compared with untreated M2 macrophage-derived exosomes, cell-penetrating peptide modified primary M2 macrophage-derived exosomes can be better taken up by target cells, enabling inflammation targeting. The results of experiments in vivo also showed that after cell-penetrating peptide modification, the accumulation of exosomes at the site of inflammation was about 176% of that of unmodified ones. Experiments in SCI or RA mice also showed that primary M2 macrophage exosomes loaded with curcumin penetrating peptide modification had a more prominent ability to inhibit inflammation and improve motor function in inflammation models. Especially in promoting the repolarization of macrophages, in vitro experiments showed that under the action of curcumin loaded and R9 peptide modified M2 macrophage-derived exosomes (Cur@EXs-R9), more than 50% of macrophages were repolarized to M2-type macrophages. In conclusion, the engineered exosomes (Cur@EXs-R9) we designed, provides a new drug delivery carrier for treating inflammatory diseases.

Platelet rich fibrin (PRF), a gel formed during coagulation from fibrin fibers and a large amount of activated platelets, is considered a potential biomaterial for periodontal disease treatment. The fibrin fiber network, acting as a mesothelial barrier, along with growth factors released by platelets, can inhibit inflammation and support tissue regeneration. In this study, whole blood samples were collected without anticoagulants and immediately centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 15 mins to prepare PRF. From 5 ml of whole blood, the procedure can produce a PRF volume of 1.83 ±0.15 ml. The PRF produced was shown to have the fibrin fiber network with platelet concentration 2.74 ± 0.22 times higher than in normal state blood. In addition, PRF extract can stimulate the proliferation and migration of human periodontal ligament stem cells. This study demonstrated the potential application of PRF to periodontal disease treatment in particular and implants in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acellular vascular graft (MMVB) is one of the major research trends in cardiovascular tissue engineering because of its high abundance, low-cost and reduced immunogenicity. Biocompatibility is a key factor for its success. In this study, porcine carotids were decellularized by SDS 0.5%, distilled water to produce MMVBs. In vitro biocompatibility was assessed based on ISO 10993-5 (with fibroblasts) and mesenchymal stem cell (TBGTM) growth on lumen after 13 days. MMVBs was then transplanted under rodent skin to evaluate in vivo biocompatibility for a period of 4 weeks. Results showed that a combination of SDS 0.5% for 24 hours and distilled water for 24 hours removed all cells and preserved the extracellular matrix. MMVBs were nontoxic (level 0, according to ISO 10993-5) and supported the growth of TBGTM (peak at day 7). Haematoxylin/Eosin staining showed that inflammation was absent in the 4th week (similar to commercial Dacron grafts). In conclusion, MMVBs have biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomembranes have been applied recently in periodontal treatment in order to achieve the periodontal tissue regeneration. These membranes play a key role in guiding the migration of progenitor cells and stem cells within the periodontal tissues to the area of defects for tissue healing and regeneration. Bovine pericardium is mainly composed of collagen type I, which was demonstrated to have mechanical properties and biological regenerative potential. Our research aims to extend the applications of biomembrane derived from bovine pericardium to periodontal treatment. Bovine pericardium was harvested and processed to achieve suitable mechanical and biological properties for periodontal treatment. Graft safety of the fabricated membrane was evaluated in vitro and in vivo according to ISO and FDA standards. Especially, the biomembrane was shown to support the migration of human gingival fibroblasts in vitro. These results indicate that biomembranes fabicated from bovine pericardium is suitable for periodontal treatment and regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The puncture procedure in percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is non-visual, and the learning curve for PELD is steep. Methods: An augmented reality surgical navigation (ARSN) system was designed and utilized in PELD. The system possesses three core functionalities: augmented reality (AR) radiograph overlay, AR puncture needle real-time tracking, and AR navigation. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate its feasibility and effectiveness. A total of 20 patients with lumbar disc herniation treated with PELD were analyzed. Of these, 10 patients were treated with the guidance of ARSN (ARSN group). The remaining 10 patients were treated using C-arm fluoroscopy guidance (control group). Results: The AR radiographs and AR puncture needle were successfully superimposed on the intraoperative videos. The anteroposterior and lateral AR tracking distance errors were 1.55 ± 0.17 mm and 1.78 ± 0.21 mm. The ARSN group exhibited a significant reduction in both the number of puncture attempts (2.0 ± 0.4 vs. 6.9 ± 0.5, p = 0.000) and the number of fluoroscopies (10.6 ± 0.9 vs. 18.5 ± 1.6, p = 0.000) compared with the control group. Complications were not observed in either group. Conclusions: The results indicate that the clinical application of the ARSN system in PELD is effective and feasible.

Background: In minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), where the surgeon cannot directly see the patient’s internal anatomical structure, the implementation of augmented reality (AR) technology may solve this problem. Methods: We combined AR, artificial intelligence, and optical tracking to enhance the augmented reality minimally invasive spine surgery (AR-MISS) system. The system has three functions: AR radiograph superimposition, AR real-time puncture needle tracking, and AR intraoperative navigation. The three functions of the system were evaluated through beagle animal experiments. Results: The AR radiographs were successfully superimposed on the real intraoperative videos. The anteroposterior (AP) and lateral errors of superimposed AR radiographs were 0.74 ± 0.21 mm and 1.13 ± 0.40 mm, respectively. The puncture needles could be tracked by the AR-MISS system in real time. The AP and lateral errors of the real-time AR needle tracking were 1.26 ± 0.20 mm and 1.22 ± 0.25 mm, respectively. With the help of AR radiographs and AR puncture needles, the puncture procedure could be guided visually by the system in real-time. The anteroposterior and lateral errors of AR-guided puncture were 2.47 ± 0.86 mm and 2.85 ± 1.17 mm, respectively. Conclusions: The results indicate that the AR-MISS system is accurate and applicable.

The thermodynamic and kinetic basic theories of high temperature oxidation of metals and the theoretical conditions for the formation of protective oxide scale on FeCr alloys were described briefly. The characteristics of oxide scale structure and oxidation kinetics of traditional martensitic steel were summarized. Three new characteristics of oxidation behavior of new martensitic steel were summarized, namely good oxidation resistance, anomalous relationship between temperature and oxidation rate, and a special Cr-rich layer.It was pointed out that the oxidation behavior of some new martensitic steels is close to that of austenitic steels, and the oxidation resistance of martensitic steels was expected to be increased to the level of austenitic steels. The effect of Co, W and Si on the internal/external oxidation transition is the key research direction in the future.

To (i) introduce the technical notes of a novel full‐endoscopic foraminotomy with a large endoscopic trephine for the treatment of severe degenerative lumbar foraminal stenosis at L5S1 level; (ii) assess the primary clinical outcomes of this technique; (iii) compare the effectiveness of this full‐endoscopic foraminotomy technique and other previous techniques for lumbar foraminal stenosis. From January 2019 to August 2019, a retrospective study of L5S1 severe degenerative lumbar foraminal stenosis was performed in our center. All patients who were diagnosed with severe foraminal stenosis at L5S1 level and failed conservative treatment for at least 6 weeks were identified. Patients with segmental instability or other coexisting contraindications were excluded. A total of 21 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients were treated by full‐endoscopic foraminotomy using large endoscopic trephine. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were evaluated preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6 months, and 1 year after the surgery, and the modified MacNab criteria were used to evaluate clinical outcomes at the last follow‐up. There were 10 males and 11 females with a mean age of 66.38 ± 9.51 years. Five patients had a history of lumbar surgery. The mean operative time was 63.57 ± 25.74 min. The mean follow‐up time was 13.29 ± 1.38 months. The mean postoperative hospital stay time was 1.29 ± 0.56 days. The mean preoperative VAS score significantly decreased from 7.38 ± 1.02 to 2.76 ± 1.09 (t = 19.759, P

During vascular remodeling after intimal injury, circulating platelets are activated by exposed collagen and release platelet-derived microvesicles (PMVs), which may contribute to the injury-induced apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, the mechanisms in this process are still unclear. Using a rat balloon injury model, platelet adhesion at the injured site was detected, and promoted medial VSMC apoptosis was revealed with dT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) in vivo. VSMC apoptosis was promoted by coincubation with PMVs in vitro. Transcriptomics analysis indicated the abound expression of the microRNA-30 (miR-30) family in platelets, and the expression of the miR-30 family in platelets and PMVs was confirmed with qPCR. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software identified transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) as a pivotal molecule linking miR-30 and cellular apoptosis. In vitro, PMVs delivered miR-30e, an important member of the miR-30 family, into VSMCs and increased cell apoptosis. A dual-luciferase assay was adopted to verify the interaction of miR-30e with RUNX2, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) proved the cytoplasmic localization of miR-30e in VSMCs. The apoptotic effect on VSMCs was further confirmed by using miR-30e mimics and RUNX2 siRNA. Furthermore, RUNX2 siRNA altered the expression of its downstream genes, Tnfrsf11b, Smad6 and Mmp13, which may participate in apoptosis, as suggested by IPA. Our results indicated that PMVs play important roles in the interactions between circulating elements and VSMCs by delivering miR-30e to VSMCs and then promoting apoptosis. PMVs and potential intercellular messages may be novel therapeutic targets for preventing pathological vascular remodeling after intimal injury.

Instructions are what English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers use in order to draw students' attention to a task, engage them in the task, run classroom activities, and prompt them to provide a product for the purposes of assessment. The focus of this descriptive, naturalistic, and observational study is to explore how the teachers use written instructions and their subsequent spoken instructions given by the same EFL teachers for the same tasks. The data were gathered from two classroom teaching episodes of two EFL teachers to see how verbal instructions compliment written instructions. An analysis of the features of the EFL teachers' written instructions and their subsequent spoken instructions reveals that there are many different spoken instruction features used to enhance written instructions. These features result ultimately in the students understanding the task requirements. The findings can be useful for lesson preparation and for raising teachers' awareness that spoken instructions provide features which enhance students' understanding of the written instructions for a task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the theoretical researches of truck dispatching in open-pit mines in China in terms of model building, algorithm solving, dispatching criteria and the development status of truck dispatching system. The key research contents of truck dispatching are proposed, including intelligent dispatching with multiple dispatching methods; according to the change of transportation system conditions and the comprehensive scheduling optimization criteria of production task requirements, a time dynamic prediction model combining integrated learning and deep learning was established. Truck dispatching and coal distribution management is carried out based on semi-continuous process truck scheduling research. Under the background of the development of intelligent opencast mine, the development trend of truck dispatching in the future is forecasted with the combination of modern high technology and analysis method.

Introduction The full-endoscopic spinal surgery (FESS) procedure is widely accepted and welcomed in China. With the continuous development of minimally invasive surgery, the further expansion of indications and the greater diversity of techniques, spinal endoscopic surgery currently accounts for more than 10% of spinal surgery in China, ranking among the top in the world. However, the admission system and standardised training system for spinal endoscopic surgery are not perfect, which presents a challenge and disadvantage for novices.Methods and analysis Exploratory mixed methods are applied for designing this study. First, we will collect questions from novices by allowing them to openly list their concerns to those who have completed FESS. These qualitative questions will be categorised using NVivo software. To produce the qualitative results, a questionnaire for the sequential two-round Delphi approach will be developed to identify the 20 most important questions from novices. This study is planned to be started at April 2021, and completed at March 2022.Ethics and dissemination The Research Ethics Committee of Peking University Third Hospital provided a waiver for this Delphi protocol. We expect that the findings will be published in a clinical journal and presented at conferences. Furthermore, we hope that the results can contribute to answering the questions raised by novices of spinal endoscopy in the form of books and to improving the training system for spinal endoscopy surgery.