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The current research study aims at inspecting various levels of apprehension and anxiety faced by university postgraduates in Pakistan and China when learning a foreign language (FL). The target population of this research was the university postgraduates from a Chinese university in Wuhan, and a public sector university in Lahore, Pakistan. The sample of this study was 206 postgraduates, out of which 106 (male =28, female= 78) from a Chinese university and 100 (male=53, female= 47) from a Pakistani university in Lahore. The sample was selected randomly and aged (21-30), and all participants belonged to the postgraduate level. Horwitz’s foreign language classroom anxiety scale (known as FLCAS) was used as a survey model, a theoretical framework for collecting data from both universities. The Statistical Package of a Social Sciences (SPSS version23) was used to get quantitative results. Descriptive statistics were used to investigate the anxiety level. Mean score and standard deviation were computed of both groups, besides it, the independent samples t-test was run to compare the mean score of both groups and infer if there existed any difference in the target language anxiety level. The results revealed that Chinese postgraduates face more anxiety than Pakistani postgraduates, and there existed significant differences in foreign language anxiety levels of both groups. Based on the results, it can be implicated that combined efforts of mentors and students can pave the way in tackling anxiety among university postgraduates.

As one of the core devices for an electro-optic analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the Mach&ndash, Zehnder (MZ) modulator plays an important role, and the output stability of the MZ modulator has a decisive influence on the conversion accuracy of the ADC. This paper proposed a pilot tone-based method to stabilize the bias point of the modulator. This method could obtain the corresponding control voltage of the MZ modulator by adding a KHz-level dither tone to the bias end of the modulator and calculating the ratio of the first and second harmonic components. The experimental results showed that the output optical power of the modulator was stable at 3.2 dB when the bias point of the modulator was set at the orthogonal point. Moreover, the fluctuation range was not more than 0.15 dB, the first harmonic of the output signal was stable at 50.5 dB, and the fluctuation range was not more than 0.6 dB. The proposed bias controller based on the field programmable gate array (FPGA) and digital signal processing (DSP) can stabilize the modulator bias point at the orthogonal point and with a relatively high locking accuracy.

Dry stack masonry (DSM) constructed without mortar has been suggested for use in reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures. DSM can considerably improve the seismic performance of masonry infill panels and frames. For this type of structure, the characteristics of frictional forces between the bricks are crucial for energy dissipation, but few researchers have studied these forces. In this paper, a novel dynamic loading test concept is proposed. The dynamic friction characteristics of dry bricks were investigated using this concept. A numerical comparison between the novel test and a triplet test was conducted to validate the advantages and stability of the novel test concept. Nine different loading speed tests based on the novel test concept were conducted to study the effects of shear rate on the cyclic behavior of mortarless masonry joints. Investigating dynamic friction hysteretic curves yielded a dynamic friction characteristic model of dry brick joints, comprising five stages: presliding, softening transition, macroslip, hardening transition, and unloading stages. A formula regarding the Stribeck effect on the macroslip stage is proposed to calculate the dynamic friction coefficient, which is of noteworthy importance for use in day-to-day research on the dynamic friction characteristics of dry bricks.

Objective: Wilm’s tumor is a common renal malignancy in childhood with unsatisfactory prognosis. microRNA-215-5p (miR-215-5p) has been reported as a tumor-suppressive miRNA in different types of human cancers, but rarely in the Wilm’s tumor. In light of this, we tried to investigate the regulatory role and underlying mechanism of miR-215-5p in the Wilm’s tumor. Methods: After sample collection and cell culture, the expression of miR-215-5p and CT10 Regulator of Kinase (CRK) was detected. Then rhabdoid tumor cell lines (formerly classified as Wilms’ tumor cell lines), G401 and WT-CLS1 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1, pcDNA3.1-CRK, sh-NC, sh-CRK, agomir NC, miR-215-5p agomir, antagomir NC or miR-215-5p antagomir to explore the function of miR-215-5p and CRK in the Wilm’s tumor cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, the relationship between miR-215-5p and CRK was analyzed by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Results: Lowly-expressed miR-215-5p and highly-expressed CRK were observed in the Wilm’s tumor tissues and cells. Transfection of pcDNA3.1-CRK or miR-215-5p antagomir could promote G401 and WT-CLS1 cell proliferation and enhance migration ability, while transfection of sh-CRK or miR-215-5p agomir led to opposite results. Additionally, miR-215-5p may bind to CRK. Moreover, transfection of pcDNA3.1-CRK in G401 and WT-CLS1 cells could partially reverse the inhibitory effect of miR-215-5p agomir on the proliferation and migration of Wilm’s tumor cells. Conclusion: Our study highlighted that miR-215-5p could suppress the proliferation and migration of Wilm’s tumor cells by regulating the expression of CRK, providing new ideas for molecular targeted therapy for Wilm’s tumor.

It is necessary to identify the relationship between neck circumference and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with hypertension. Patients with hypertension treated in our hospital were included. The height, weight, neck circumference, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, 2 h blood glucose (2hPPG), density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were analyzed and compared. A total of 2860 patients with hypertension were included. There were significant differences between male and female patients in the neck circumference, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, Total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, HDL-C, LDL-C, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, drinking and smoking (all P

Identification of salt tolerance of crops usually requires long-term observation of morphology, or physiological and biochemical experiments, which are time-consuming and laborious tasks. This paper proposes a model, based on a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) with a conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN), which can quickly and effectively identify the salt tolerance of the seedlings using plant electrical signals at the early seedling stage. To address the problem of the small-scale dataset, the improved CGAN was used for sample augmentation of plant electrical signals under salt stress. The 1D-CNN can extract features efficiently and automatically and distinguish between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive varieties. Furthermore, the 1D-CNN was trained using real samples and a training set augmented with generated samples, separately. After data augmentation by the improved CGAN, the accuracy of the CNN increased to 92.31%, and the classification performance was better than that of the traditional method. In conclusion, this method is useful and promising for identifying the salt tolerance of plants at the early seedling stage. It is also applicable to other 1D signals with small-scale datasets, and to other types of crops.

Subsphaeroidal SiC/polymer composite granules with good flowability for additive manufacturing/3D printing of SiC were prepared by ball milling with surface modification using polyvinyl butyral (PVB). PVB adheres to the particle surface of SiC to form a crosslinked network structure and keeps them combined with each other into light aggregates. The effects of PVB on the shape, size, phase composition, distribution and flowability of the polymer-ceramic composite powder were investigated in detail. Results show that the composite powder material has good laser absorptivity at wavelengths of lower than 500 nm.

Objective. We aim to explore the effects and mechanisms of Jinlida granules on the dysfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin. Methods. A total of 48 SD rats were randomized into normal control group (NC, n=6) and diabetic group (n=42). Rats in diabetic group were randomly divided into diabetes mellitus (DM) control group, low, medium, and high doses of Jinlida group (JL, JM, and JH), medium dose of Jinlida plus Tongxinluo group (JM + T), metformin group (Met), and Saxagliptin group (Sax) (n=6 in each group). Diabetic rats were obtained by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and sacrificed at 8 weeks to examine the function of HPT axis. Results. Levels of fasting blood glucose (P<0.05), pIκB, TNFα (P<0.05), pNF-κB, and IL-6 (P<0.01) in liver tissue and TSHR mRNA expression (P<0.01) in diabetic group were significantly increased, while levels of serum T3 and T4, thyroid hormone receptor (TR) mRNA and Dio1 mRNA in liver tissue, and sodium iodide symporter (NIS) mRNA in thyroid tissue in diabetic group were significantly decreased compared with those in NC group (P<0.01). Among diabetic groups, level of fasting blood glucose in JH, JM + T and Met group was lower (P<0.05) compared with DM group. However, levels of serum T3 and T4, TR mRNA in liver tissue, TSHR, and NIS mRNA in thyroid tissue in JH, JM + T, Met, and Sax group were significantly increased (P<0.01) compared to DM group. In contrast, levels of Dio1 mRNA, pI-κB in Met and JM + T groups, pNF-κB in JH, JM + T, and Met group, and TNFα and IL-6 in JM, JH, JM + T, and Met group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). HE staining showed reduced thyroid follicular epithelium and follicular area, as well as increased colloid area in DM group, indicating impaired synthesis, reabsorption, and secretory of TH in diabetes, which was significantly improved in JH, JM + T, and Met groups. Conclusion. HPT axis dysfunction in DM could be significantly improved by Jinlida granules. The mechanism might be associated with the anti-inflammatory effects involving NF-κB pathway. Our findings suggested the potential benefit of Jinlida granules for patients with HPT axis dysfunction and DM, which was to be verified by more experimental and clinical studies.

The application of robot is expanded unceasingly followed by the development of artificial intelligence, such as household and nursing, education and other services. The human–machine interactive mode changes fundamentally as the relation within them is closer, while emotional interaction is the prevailing trend. And thus there is a need of the guidance of cognitive psychology in robotics. This paper reviews the robotic emotion recognition, and then introduces the cognitive theory applied in robotics, including robot autism intervention, robot education and household service robot.

Objective To review year 1957–2005 literature on acupuncture and moxibustion and explore point selection and methods for acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of diarrhea in order to provide objective and reliable data for research on acupuncture and moxibustion standardization.

Based on the structure of a kind of new bus-based lithium-ion battery pack system which has been proposed, the paper uses the consensus concept of multi-agent system to solve the equalization problem of the battery pack. We use two kinds of control protocols which are first used in the energy equalization to solve the equalization problem. The paper simplifies the mathematical model, and updates the control protocol to achieve the energy equalization of battery pack. The proposed control protocols are verified by the simulation to the equalization system.

This paper reviews and analyzes 50 articles concerning the treatment of climacteric syndrome by acupuncture and moxibustion therapries. The therapies were single acupuncture, acupuncture combining other methods, auricular-plaster therapy, and some other therapies. Clear diagnostic criteria were found in 39 articles, and the most common-used criteria wereCombination of TCM and Western Medicine Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Kupperman Index Scoring andCriterion of Diagnosis and Treatment Effect of TCM Diseases and Syndrome. All together 2946 cases were treated, and the therapeutic effect rates ranged from 58.1% to 100%. There were control group in 16 articles. The syndromes have been classified as 27 types in 15 articles, including type of yin-deficiency of the liver and the kidney, yang-deficiency of the spleen and the kidney, yang-deficiency of the kidney, yin-deficiency of the kidney, disharmony between the heart and the kidney, and the liver stagnation, etc. Some effects have been got in treating female climacteric syndrome with acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, however, there were fewer strict randomized controlled trials (RCT).

With glass fiber manufacturing industry as an example, studied the design and application of automatic logistics system based on 2-Dimensional Bar Code. The system through the analysis of information flow in the process of production, designed and studied the application in the production process about Fieldbus Control System, Programmable Logic Controller, Manufacturing Execution System, Enterprise Resource Planning, 2-Dimensional Bar Code image system. Automation logistics system for the enterprise success implementation of integrative management provided an effective method for reference, implement the efficient intelligent monitoring and management of manufacturing process.

To promote acupuncture practice, the general situation of acupuncture in treating leucopenia between 1949–2004 were analyzed on the basis of Chinese Modern Acupuncture Database. From 1981, references of acupuncture treating leucopenia increased annually and steadily. In clinic, hydroacupuncture, needling, and moxibustion are widely used, and the selected acupoints are those of Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang and Governor Vessel. Acupuncture-moxibustion have a good therapeutic effects on leucopenia.

To review the general situation of acupuncture in treating vascular headache between 1949–2004 in an attempt to promote acupuncture practice, clinical references concerning acupuncture treatment of vascular headache were analyzed on the basis ofChinese Modern Acupuncture Database. From 1956, these references increased annually and steadily. In clinical practice, needling is cardinally used, and the acupoints are selected adjacent to diseased part and on syndrome differentiation.

This paper makes a statistics on the literature concerning the treatment of asthma by acupuncture respectively from theRetrieval System of Acupoint Indications in Ancient Acupuncture Treatise and theInformation Database of Modern Chinese Acupuncture, and compares the treatment methods between ancient and modern times, in an attempt to advance the common treatment principles and methods for asthma by acupuncture.

Analyzed 74 articles relevant to urinary calculus and renal colic. The statistics found that the commonly used therapies were needling, acupuncture and moxibustion, electro-acupuncture, acupoint-injection, ear-point application, ear acupuncture, wrist-ankle acupuncture, scalp acupuncture, acupressure and combined acupuncture methods. The common acupoints that were used over 1,400 times in more than 12 articles were Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongji (CV 3), and Jingmen (GB 25).

To analyze 73 theses that all accorded with statistical demand about ulcerative colonitis. The statistics found that the commonly used therapies were acupuncture, moxibustion, acupuncture-moxibustion, herb-partitioned moxibustion, acupoint-injection, point-radiation therapy, auricular-plaster therapy, catgut implantation at acupoint, point application etc. The commonly used points were Zusanii (ST36), Tianshu (ST25), Pishu (BL20), Weishu (BL21), Zhongwan (CV12), Dachangshu (BL25) etc. The total effective rate in clinic was 95.40%.

A principle prototype of 6-DOF (six degree of freedom) wire-driven parallel manipulator--WDPSS-8 (WDPSS: Wire-Driven Parallel Suspension System, 8: eight wires) has been designed and built in this paper. The kinematics model and dynamics model have been established in moving and fixed coordinate system set in the model and the manipulator respectively. The trajectory of the aircraft model along a spiral curve has been marked out for analysis. Since the solution of dynamics equation is multiple for a given motion of the model because of superfluous constraint, optimization method has been employed to search a reasonable wire tension system. The simulation including the kinematics and dynamics analysis has been carried out in the environment of MATLAB. The length and tension of the wires driving the model have been presented. The results will help to control the model's movement and calculate the aerodynamics of vehicle model in wind tunnel tests. The research will lay foundation for WDPSS used in the actual wind tunnel tests. And it proves WDPSS-8 may be used as the support system of vehicle model in the wind tunnel test.

As an ever-increasing amount of information on the Web today is available through search interfaces, users have to key in a set of keywords in order to access the pages from certain Web sites, which are often referred to as the hidden Web or the deep Web. Since there is no static links to the hidden Web pages, search engines cannot discover and index such pages. However, according to recent studies, the content provided by many hidden Web sites is often of very high quality and can be extremely valuable to many users. How to build an effective hidden Web crawler that can autonomously discover and download pages from the hidden Web is studied. A framework of deep Web crawler is provided and we propose novel techniques to handle the actual mechanics of crawling the deep Web. Experiment shows that these policies are effective.

This paper collects and analyzes 40 398 pieces of information from Chinese Modern Acupuncture Information Database (1970–2002). It covers 93 articles concerning the treatment of chronic gastritis by acupuncture and 5 325 subjects, the total effective rate being 94.4%. The frequent treatment methods are needling, moxibustion, burial therapy, and hydropuncture. The major acupoints are Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12), Weishu (BL 21), Pishu (BL20), Neiguan (PC 6), Ganshu (BL 18), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. In the presence of severe stomachache, Liangqiu (ST 34) and Gongsun (SP 4) are added; in the presence of abdominal fullness, Tianshu (ST 25) and Qihai (CV 6) are added; in the presence of diarrhea, Tianshu (ST 25) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) are added; in the presence of vomiting, Shangwan (CV 13) and Taichong (LR 3) are added.

This paper statistically analyzes sixty-two articles concerning the treatment of obesity with acupuncture, and finds that the common therapy embraces needling, moxibustion, electroacupuncture, ear acupuncture, auricular application, auricular needle-embedding, acupoint application, acupoint embedding and combined methods of acupuncture. The frequent auricular acupoints are Stomach (MA-IC), Endocrine (MA-IC 3), Er Shenmen (MA-TF I), Lung (MA-IC 1), Spleen (MA-IC), Hunger Point (MA-T) and Sanjiao (MA-IC 4). The clinical total effective rate was 75.8%.

Related to treatment of senile dementia, 53 articles conformed the statistical demand were analyzed, finding commonly used methods are acupuncture, moxibustion, acupoint-injection, electro-acupuncture, ocular-acupuncture, scalp-acupuncture, digital-acupuncture and acupuncture plus other therapies, key treatment principle is opening orifice and invigorating brain, frequent selected acupoints are Baihui (GV 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Fengchi (GB 20), Fenglong (ST 40), Neiguan (PC 6), Shuigou (GV 26), etc; and the total effective rate is 89.62%.

It is revealed in the present paper that the reflectance around the defect mode of one-dimensional defective photonic crystal (PC) in an asymmetric structure approaches to 1, while the phase-shift depends on the number of the coupled-defect layers, i.e., the phase shift is 2π for every sub-peak of the defect mode. When the defect layer is a temperature sensitive material, very small change of temperature will cause a significant phase change. Secondly, it is demonstrated that the relationship of phase and temperature has a linear range. According to the above characteristics, a highly sensitive temperature sensor is designed based on the phase property of photonic crystal. Moreover, this principle of PC phase sensing can be extended to study other sensors, such as the two-dimensional PC, which is suitable for optical integration.

Statistical analysis was made through computer on the information of insomnia treated by acupuncture in 93 ancient medical books. Statistical results showed that 65 acupoints were used in ancient times, up to 108 times in frequency. The common acupoints are as follows:Gongsun (SP 4), Danshu (BL 19), Yinbai (SP 1), Qihai (CV 6), Tianfu (LU 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6),Yinlingquan (SP 9), Feishu (BL 13), Yemen (TE 2), Guanyuan (CV 4), Yinjiao (GV 28) et al.The common meridians are Bladder Meridian, Spleen Meridian, Conception Vessel, Stomach Meridian, et al.