Search

Self-direction skill (SDS) is an essential 21st-century skill that can help learners be independent and organized in their quest for knowledge acquisition. While some studies considered learners from higher education levels as the target audience, providing opportunities to start the SDS practice by K12 learners is still rare. Further, practicing such skills requires a concrete context and scaffolding during the skill acquisition. This article introduces the Goal Oriented Active Learner (GOAL) system that facilitates SDS acquisition in learners utilizing daily activities as context. The GOAL architecture integrates learning logs from online environments and physical activity logs from wearable trackers to provide a data-rich environment for the learners to acquire and practice their SDS. The GOAL users follow DAPER, a five-phase process model, to utilize the affordances in the system while practicing SDS. We implemented the GOAL system at a K12 public institution in Japan in 2019. Learners used the online environments for extensive reading and smartwatches for tracking walking and sleeping activities. This study analyzes detailed interaction patterns in GOAL while learners planned and monitored their self-directed actions. The results illustrate the strategies for DAPER behaviors that emerge in different activity contexts. We discuss the potentials and challenges of this technology ecosystem that connects learners' learning logs and physical activity logs, specifically in the K12 context in Japan and, more generally, from the learning analytics research perspective to provide a context to practice SDS.

ObjectiveTo screen differentially-expressed circRNA in plasma exosomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and verify its diagnostic value for NSCLC. MethodsThe plasma exosomes of six patients with NSCLC and six healthy people were analyzed by circRNA sequencing. The expression of hsa_circ_0052513 in plasma exosomes of 60 NSCLC patients and 60 healthy controls was detected by qRT-PCR. The expression level of hsa_circ_0052513 in plasma exosomes of NSCLC patients before and after surgery was detected by qRT-PCR. The correlation between the expression of plasma exosomal hsa_circ_0052513 and clinical data of patients with NSCLC was statistically analyzed. ResultsSequencing results showed that the expression of hsa_circ_0052513 in the plasma exosomes of NSCLC patients was higher than that of healthy controls, and the results were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Hsa_circ_0052513 was decreased in patients with NSCLC after tumor resection (P

In order to solve the problems of low efficiency and cumbersome process of Pichia pastoris genetic manipulation, secretory genetic manipulation tools were constructed and optimized to improve their industrial production and application value. Firstly, the α-amylase was employed as the reporter protein, and the non-integrated expression plasmid was constructed by fusing the self-replicating sequence. Secondly, endogenous signal peptides that best match the target protein were quickly screened and evaluated using universal primers and POE-PCR. Finally, a nutrition-dependent screening marker was constructed with phosphite as the sole phosphorus source. The results indicate that non-integrated plasmids express α-amylase with 2-fold and 1.6-fold higher enzyme activity compared to integrated plasmids, respectively; The use of FLO10, EXG1, and MSB2 signal peptides results in 2.5-fold, 1.94-fold, and 1.75-fold higher α-amylase activity than the conventional signal peptide α-MF, respectively; Arecombinant strain for heterologous expression of α-amylase is successfully screened using the phosphite dehydrogenase gene (ptxD). The process of gene operation is simplified, the genetic operation tools are improved, and green, safe, and low-cost nutrition-dependent screening markers are provided, which lays a foundation for the application and promotion of the Pichia pastoris secretory expression system.

In response to the global climate crisis, some countries and regions have established green trade “carbon barriers” that leverage their advantages in carbon emissions accounting and certification to curtail exports of Chinese products. Facing these emerging challenges, China needs to refine its carbon accounting system to contribute to an equitable and cooperative global climate governance and trade system. This study aims to improve China’s carbon accounting system. It summarizes the essence and construction progress of the carbon accounting system, introduces the accounting and reporting requirements of international green trade mechanisms, and employs comparative analysis to examine the differences between China’s carbon market, the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and the “Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries” in terms of accounting boundaries, methodologies, and data support and quality assurance systems. The findings indicate that while China’s carbon market aligns with international green trade mechanisms in terms of accounting methodologies, it lags significantly in its carbon footprint system as well as data support and quality assurance systems. These gaps mean that Chinese export-oriented enterprises struggle to overcome these carbon barriers with the current accounting system, potentially hindering the development of emerging industries. The study suggests that China should adhere to its fundamental stance of opposing unfair green trade barriers and take specific measures to improve the carbon accounting system: (1) enhancing the product-level carbon accounting system, (2) establishing a credible platform for emission factor data, (3) bolstering research support from academic institutions, (4) reinforcing data security management, and (5) improving the carbon accounting and reporting capabilities of affected enterprises.

Objective Retention or sacrifice of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is one of the most controversial issues while performing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PCL resection on flexion–extension gaps, femoral component rotation, and bone resection amounts during robot‐assisted TKA. Methods This prospective study included 40 patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent robot‐assisted posterior‐stabilized (PS) TKA between September 2021 and February 2022. Of the patients, 75% were women (30/40) with a mean age and BMI of 72.6 years and 27.4 kg/m2, respectively. The guidance module and camera stand assembly were used to capture gaps before and after PCL resection. Measurements of femoral component rotation and bone resection amounts were made in cruciate‐retaining (CR) TKA mode and PS‐TKA mode. Results After PCL resection, the mean change in the medial and lateral compartments of flexion gaps increased by 2.0 and 0.6 mm, respectively (p

Self-directed learning (SDL) requires students to take initiative to learn and control their own learning process. Literature highlights the importance of SDL for lifelong learning. Yet, little understanding is known regarding how to support SDL at the school level, specifically for out-of-class learning context. To fill up this gap, this research developed a learning dashboard and integrated SDL process management in GOAL system. It was implemented to provide support for out-of-class online self-directed extensive reading (SDER) at a high school level. A two-group study conducted during a three-week spring vacation found the experimental group (N = 35, with SDL support) achieved significantly more reading outcomes than the control group (N = 12, without SDL support). Detailed GOAL interaction behavior analysis of the experimental group showed that viewing learning dashboard was significantly correlated with reading outcomes as well as interactions related to SDL process management. These findings highlights positive effect of SDL support in GOAL on students' out-of-class SDER outcomes as well as their SDL behaviors. The study provided implications for research related to extensive reading and SDL support for out-of-class learning.

Abstract Lenvatinib, a multitarget kinase inhibitor, has been proven to be effective in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. It has been previously demonstrated that tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) in tumour tissues can promote HCC growth, invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, lenvatinib has certain immunomodulatory effects on the treatment of HCC. However, the role of lenvatinib in macrophage polarization during HCC treatment has not been fully explored. In this study, we used a variety of experimental methods both in vitro and in vivo to investigate the effect of lenvatinib on TAMs during HCC progression. This study is the first to show that lenvatinib can alter macrophage polarization in both humans and mice. Moreover, macrophages treated with lenvatinib in vitro displayed enhanced classically activated macrophages (M1) activity and suppressed liver cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Furthermore, during the progression of M1 macrophage polarization induced by lenvatinib, STAT-1 was the main target transcription factor, and inhibiting STAT-1 activity reversed the effect of lenvatinib. Overall, the present study provides a theoretical basis for the immunomodulatory function of lenvatinib in the treatment of HCC.

Self-direction skill (SDS) is an essential 21st-century skill that can help learners be independent and organized in their quest for knowledge acquisition. While some studies considered learners from higher education levels as the target audience, providing opportunities to start the SDS practice by K12 learners is still rare. Further, practicing such skills requires a concrete context and scaffolding during the skill acquisition. This article introduces the Goal Oriented Active Learner (GOAL) system that facilitates SDS acquisition in learners utilizing daily activities as context. The GOAL architecture integrates learning logs from online environments and physical activity logs from wearable trackers to provide a data-rich environment for the learners to acquire and practice their SDS. The GOAL users follow DAPER, a five-phase process model, to utilize the affordances in the system while practicing SDS. We implemented the GOAL system at a K12 public institution in Japan in 2019. Learners used the online environments for extensive reading and smartwatches for tracking walking and sleeping activities. This study analyzes detailed interaction patterns in GOAL while learners planned and monitored their self-directed actions. The results illustrate the strategies for DAPER behaviors that emerge in different activity contexts. We discuss the potentials and challenges of this technology ecosystem that connects learners’ learning logs and physical activity logs, specifically in the K12 context in Japan and, more generally, from the learning analytics research perspective to provide a context to practice SDS.

Abstract The intelligent appearance quality classification method for Auricularia auricula is of great significance to promote this industry. This paper proposes an appearance quality classification method for Auricularia auricula based on the improved Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks (improved Faster RCNN) framework. The original Faster RCNN is improved by establishing a multiscale feature fusion detection model to improve the accuracy and real-time performance of the model. The multiscale feature fusion detection model makes full use of shallow feature information to complete target detection. It fuses shallow features with rich detailed information with deep features rich in strong semantic information. Since the fusion algorithm directly uses the existing information of the feature extraction network, there is no additional calculation. The fused features contain more original detailed feature information. Therefore, the improved Faster RCNN can improve the final detection rate without sacrificing speed. By comparing with the original Faster RCNN model, the mean average precision (mAP) of the improved Faster RCNN is increased by 2.13%. The average precision (AP) of the first-level Auricularia auricula is almost unchanged at a high level. The AP of the second-level Auricularia auricula is increased by nearly 5%. And the third-level Auricularia auricula AP is increased by 1%. The improved Faster RCNN improves the frames per second from 6.81 of the original Faster RCNN to 13.5. Meanwhile, the influence of complex environment and image resolution on the Auricularia auricula detection is explored.

The development height of water-conducting fracture zone(WCFZ) is an important parameter for water disaster treatment in coal mine roof. In this paper, the failure process of mining overlying rock is analyzed, and the rock instability failure in the fracture zone is divided into three stages: vertical fracture formation, masonry structure formation and gyratory instability; a mechanical model of vertical cracks and gyration subsidence is established. On this basis, the maximum subsidence of vertical cracks and gyration instability is analyzed to judge the rock failure. The rock stratum with gyration subsidence value between these two stages forms a stable masonry beam structure, and a new method for calculating the height of WCFZ is obtained. Taking the 2201 working face of Yingpanhao as an example, the height of the WCFZ is predicted by theoretical method and numerical simulation. By comparing with the field measured data, the theoretical calculation (123.3 m) and numerical simulation results (132 m) are close to the measured data (115.5 m), which verifies the rationality of the proposed method.

Abstract Natural gas pipelines are exposed to complex production and transportation environments, leading to blockages of varying compositions and forms due to various factors. This paper proposes a pressure pulsing wave‐based pipe blockage detection method, and a series of pipeline blockage detection experiments of different materials are carried out, including hydrate blockage, ice blockage, paraffin blockage, and water blockage. Through the blockage detection calculation theory and the reflection and transmission characteristics during pressure wave emission, the blockage position, length, and section blockage rate under different blockage materials are obtained, and the influence of different blockage materials on the reflection and transmission signal characteristics of the pressure pulse wave is analyzed. The results show that the solid blocking material does not noticeably impact the reflectivity and reflective properties of pressure waves, and different cross‐sectional shapes have a noticeable impact on the reflectivity of the pressure wave. The reflected wave waveform of the liquid blockage material is visible but irregular. The average error of blockage location is 0.78%.

Abstract Disulfidptosis, a newly identified programmed cell death pathway in prostate cancer (PCa), is closely associated with intracellular disulfide stress and glycolysis. This study aims to elucidate the roles of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in the pathogenesis and progression of PCa, with the goal of improving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. We analyzed PCa datasets and normal tissue transcriptome data from TCGA, GEO, and MSKCC. Using consensus clustering analysis and LASSO regression, we developed a risk scoring model, which was validated in an independent cohort. The model's predictive accuracy was confirmed through Kaplan–Meier curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and nomograms. Additionally, we explored the relationship between the risk score and immune cell infiltration, and examined the tumor microenvironment and somatic mutations across different risk groups. We also investigated responses to immunotherapy and drug sensitivity. Our analysis identified two disulfidosis subtypes with significant differences in survival, immune environments, and treatment responses. According to our risk score, the high-risk group exhibited poorer progression-free survival (PFS) and higher tumor mutational burden (TMB), associated with increased immune suppression. Functional enrichment analysis linked high-risk features to key cancer pathways, including the IL-17 signaling pathway. Moreover, drug sensitivity analysis revealed varied responses to chemotherapy, suggesting the potential for disulfidosis-based personalized treatment strategies. Notably, we identified PROK1 as a crucial prognostic marker in PCa, with its reduced expression correlating with disease progression. In summary, our study comprehensively assessed the clinical implications of DRGs in PCa progression and prognosis, offering vital insights for tailored precision medicine approaches.

An enclosed microgroove is a vital surface microstructure that is difficult to prepare on the surfaces of difficult-to-machine electrically conductive materials using conventional methods. Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is suitable for this task. It is obtained primarily through layer-by-layer scanning EDM with micro-column electrodes or reciprocating EDM with foil electrodes. However, owing to the small cross-sectional size of the electrodes, a stable machining process is challenging to achieve, which seriously reduces the machining efficiency. To solve these problems, this study proposed ultrasonic vibration-assisted EDM using a laminated electrode possessed strong anti-interference properties for enclosed microgrooves. The effects of ultrasonic vibration on the EDM of microgrooves with single foil and laminated electrodes were investigated. The results show that ultrasonic vibration could improve the machining efficiency of the two types of electrodes and significantly improve the profile quality of the microgrooves prepared using laminated electrodes. When the amplitude was 3 μm and the frequency was 30 kHz, the bottom sidewall corner radius of microgrooves machined by brass foils in laminated electrodes was 28 μm, the width, depth, and roughness of microgrooves machined by copper foils in laminated electrodes were approximately 78 μm, 229 μm and 0.7 μm, the material removal rate was 0.0072 mm3/min. Based on the optimized parameters, inverted “convex” microgrooves with fine consistency were successfully prepared using laminated electrodes on Ti–6Al–4V alloy surfaces. The machining time was reduced by 40% for each microgroove compared with using the single foil electrode. This study provides a new method for preparing complex microgrooves.

Maize is one of the most successful crops in utilizing heterosis which significantly improves maize stresses resistance and yield. Drought is a destructive abiotic stress that significantly reduces crop yield, particularly in maize. Drought stress and re-watering frequently occur during the growth and development of maize; however, the molecular mechanisms of heterosis under drought stress and re-watering have rarely been systematically investigated. Zhengdan7137 and Zhengdan7153 are two maize hybrid varieties with robust heterosis, and separately belongs to the SS×NSS and Reid×Tangsipingtou heterotic groups. 54 transcriptomes of these two hybrids and their parental inbred lines were analyzed under well-watering (WW), water-deficit (WD), and re-watering (RW) conditions using RNA-Seq. In this study, we identified 3,411 conserved drought response genes (CDRGs) and 3,133 conserved re-watering response genes (CRRGs) between Zhengdan7137 and Zhengdan7153. When comparing CDRGs and CRRGs to overdominance and underdominance genes, we identified 303 and 252 conservative drought response overdominance genes (DODGs) and underdominance genes (DUDGs), respectively, and 165 and 267 conservative re-watering response overdominance genes (RODGs) and underdominance genes (RUDGs), respectively. DODGs are involved in stress response-related processes, such as L-phenylalanine metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and heat response, whereas DUDGs are associated with glucose metabolism, pentose-phosphate shunt, and starch metabolism. RODGs and RUDGs contribute to the recovery of hybrids from drought stress by upregulating cell propagation and photosynthesis processes, and repressing stress response processes, respectively. It indicated overdominant and underdominant genes conservatively contributed to hybrid heterosis under drought stress. These results deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of drought resistance, uncover conservative molecular mechanisms of heterosis under drought stress and re-watering, and provide potential targets for improving drought resistance in maize.

IntroductionThe Ecological Systems Model of Creativity Development (ESMCD) proposes that parental involvement positively impacts student creativity. However, prior empirical studies present mixed results, including positive, negative, and no correlations between these variables.MethodsTo synthesize these inconsistent primary studies, the current study conducted a systematic meta-analysis synthesizing 30 primary studies involving 37 independent samples with 70 effect sizes and a total N = 20,906 participants.ResultsThe results demonstrated: (1) an overall significant small, positive correlation (r = 0.101) between parental involvement and student creativity; (2) significant small, positive correlations between specific involvement types (autonomy support r = 0.144; behavioral control r = 0.133; content support r = 0.131) and creativity, alongside a significant small, negative correlation between psychological control and creativity (r = −0.117); (3) no statistically significant moderating effects of student grade level, parental gender, region, or publication type.DiscussionThis systematic meta-analytic review consolidates empirical evidence indicating that parental involvement positively predicts students’ creativity, while highlighting the detrimental impact of psychological control on creative outcomes. Further research elucidating the mechanisms underlying these relations is critical for informing parenting approaches and education policies seeking to foster creativity development among students.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) to dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in treating acute herpetic neuralgia (AHN) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the thoracic segment.MethodsA total of 243 patients with thoracic herpes zoster-related pain (AHN or PHN) from January 2020 to September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two groups based on the timing of PRF after herpes zoster onset: an acute herpetic neuralgia group (within 90 days) and a postherpetic neuralgia group (more than 90 days). All patients were treated with PRF at the thoracic DRG. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 items (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9) scores were assessed before and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery, and the results were then compared between the two groups.ResultsPostoperative scores of VAS, AIS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 in both groups were significantly lower than preoperative scores (P < 0.001). From 1 month to 12 months after surgery, the AHN group showed significantly lower VAS, AIS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 scores compared to the PHN group (P < 0.001). In the AHN group, there was a gradual improvement in these scores from 1 week to 12 months post-surgery. Conversely, the PHN group's scores began to worsen slowly from 1 week to 12 months post-surgery. Over time, the difference in scores between the two groups also increased gradually.ConclusionPRF to the DRG is an effective treatment for patients with AHN or PHN who do not respond well to conventional treatments. For AHN patients, PRF to the DRG significantly enhances early pain control, improves sleep and psychological status, and may even prevent the development of PHN.