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Although combination antiretroviral therapy is widely used to treat HIV-1 infection, anemia affects the health and quality of life in a large number of these patients. The proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), as important support cells in the hematopoietic microenvironment, can be affected by HIV-1 Tat protein. In this study, we explored the mechanism underlying the effect of Tat protein on the hematopoietic support function of BMSCs in erythroid commitment. BMSCs were treated with Tat protein or transfected with Tat mRNA and cocultured with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to detect the number of erythroid colony-forming units (CFUs) and the proportion of mature red blood cells from HSCs. Subsequently, the expression level of a series of erythroid hematopoietic support factors and inflammatory factors in BMSCs after Tat treatment were analyzed. Then, the activation effect of Tat on the mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor kappa-B (

As technology has radically changed language translation in the age of globalization, the research on translation technology should not only benefit current research on translation of languages but also have a long-term positive impact on technology in the sociocultural context. The focuses of this paper are twofold. Firstly, it discusses how translation technology drives the changes in intercultural communication that bring both bright and dark sides. Secondly, it explores how translation technology’s involvement and interaction with human translator in practice of language translation from a socio-technical-cultural system perspective. Based on the discussion, this paper particularly addresses human translator’s collaboration with translation technology should be regarded as a cultural mediator helping to realize successful intercultural communication; and meanwhile, the human translator’ s subjectivity should be highlighted, and translation technology’s cultural design should be explored in order to improve usability that further brings benefits to the future cultural mediator.

Under the background of globalization and technology competition in the new era, aiming at the problem of traditional teaching interaction, this paper puts forward the idea of problem-based learning (PBL) teaching for environmental science majors. Compared with the traditional teaching method, the PBL model has advantages in improving students' self-learning ability, cooperation and communication ability, professional ability, being familiar with academic writing norms, and training critical thinking ability. Compared with the single-course PBL, the inter-course PBL model emphasizes the importance of systematic integration of professional knowledge when solving practical problems, and promotes teachers' extensive communication and cooperation.

This paper aims at explore what we can learn from rethinking ‘practice’ in traditional Chinese thoughts for today’s improvement of science education in using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). This firstly drives a discussion on four dimensions of Traditional Practical Learning (TPL): 1) practice varying learning, 2) learning in practice, 3) reflective learning on practice, and 4) learning to practice. It further helps to summarize both advantages and limitations of TPL. Secondly, the summary brings ideas on how to enrich our understanding of practical learning and experiential learning models in Chinese science education. Finally, PBL is regarded as one of the potential strategies to innovate contemporary science education that drives an analysis on how to make localization of PBL through TPL in a Chinese context. Briefly, this paper contributes to bridging diverse perspectives of being historical, cultural, and contemporary to address appropriate strategies in science education innovation in China.

Background: Anti-EGFR mAb are recommended treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Accurate mutation profiling and disease monitoring are challenging. The current study investigates the potential use of transrenal DNA as a biomarker for disease management. Methods: Agreement between archival tissue specimens and transrenal DNA extracted from 200 post-treated mCRC patients was determined. Total DNA concentrations were measured and mutations within the KRAS and EGFR genes were profiled for each specimen. To ascertain therapy resistance; patients were serially monitored monthly. Results: Concordance measurement with matched tissues at baseline was remarkably high (92%) for EGFR and KRAS mutations. Sensitivity and specificity were 98.4% and 89.1% respectively. Newly detectable mutations for a subgroup of patients with initial wildtype characteristics were evident after 4 months of anti-EGFR mAb therapy. Survival analysis using adjusted estimates showed that patients detected by transrenal DNA for key mutations or had higher mutant DNA content had poorer outcome. Conclusion: Transrenal DNA offers new options to follow clinical treatment in mCRC. It demonstrates the ability to capture newly acquired mutations that has strong associative links to therapy resistance. Patients with these mutations fared poorly for survival outcomes and indicated possible prognostic value for transrenal DNA detection.

China is developing an ‘innovation-oriented nation’ and meanwhile meeting challenges in both innovation practice and research. This chapter contributes to the book that introduces a problem-oriented approach to develop innovation research to a Chinese context that responses to the increasing challenges.Three questions will be focused on: 1) What are the main problems and challenges of innovation andresearch in China to become a front runner in the knowledge economy? 2) What is a problem-orientedinnovation approach? and 3) How does it conceptualize the China’s innovation challenge? Briefly, thischapter deepens the understanding of a new conceptual framework of a problem-oriented approachto innovation research and suggests new methods of technology assessment to China. It also providesimplications for researchers in other cultural contexts around the world.

Chinese universities are striving to integrate new educational elements such as student-centered learning, group learning, active learning, and learning by doing into current traditional curriculum systems for creativity development among young generations. However, the concept of creativity by its very nature is a complex term of many perspectives. It is necessary to clarify what creativity is, how creativity can be fostered in learning environments, and what universities should do in order to foster creative young talents.Introducing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) for Creativity and Innovation in Chinese Universities: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a critical scholarly resource that provides a multidimensional understanding on both challenges and opportunities of fostering creativity and PBL in Chinese universities and particularly discusses this implementation in a Chinese cultural context. Though related to a Chinese cultural context, the book can inspire other universities in other cultures, particularly in Asian areas, to learn why PBL is a potential strategy for creativity development and to rethink how to facilitate the innovation capability of universities in the future. Featuring a wide range of topics such as course design, educational technology, and curriculum development, this book is ideal for education professionals, academicians, teaching professors, researchers, administrators, and students.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating incurable neurological disorder characterized by motor neuron (MN) death and muscle dysfunction leading to mean survival time after diagnosis of only 2–5 years. A potential ALS treatment is to delay the loss of MNs and disease progression by the delivery of trophic factors. Previously, we demonstrated that implanted mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSPs) loaded with trophic factor peptide mimetics support survival and induce differentiation of co-implanted embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived MNs. Here, we investigate whether MSP loaded with peptide mimetics of ciliary neurotrophic factor (Cintrofin), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (Gliafin), and vascular endothelial growth factor (Vefin1) injected into the cervical spinal cord of mutant SOD1 mice affect disease progression and extend survival. We also transplanted boundary cap neural crest stem cells (bNCSCs) which have been shown previously to have a positive effect on MN survival in vitro and in vivo. We show that mimetic-loaded MSPs and bNCSCs significantly delay disease progression and increase survival of mutant SOD1 mice, and also that empty particles significantly improve the condition of ALS mice. Our results suggest that intraspinal delivery of MSPs is a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of ALS.

This article will focus on how smart museums provide conditions for creative and playful learning experience that facilitates creative tourism development, overcomes cultural barriers of public participation, and therefore benefits to smart city planning. Theoretically, a social-cultural perspective to the concept of creativity will be outlined that further brings a framework that intertwines with concepts of creativity, learning, playfulness, fun, and participation. This framework addresses why and how visitors in smart museums may learn creative and playful experience through participation with new technologies. Furthermore, by taking emerging smart museums in China as a case, this article also brings implications for other cultures on how to develop diverse methods and varies strategies for encouraging public participation in smart city planning in the future.

A mesoporous silica material prepared by using folic acid (FA) as a template enables the effective encapsulation of meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP) in its interior. Combination of steady-state and time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy demonstrate that FA and TCPP are released from the silica material to the aqueous phase in the form of a non-covalent assembly. This assembly does not form by simple mixing of the two components in the absence of silica, suggesting the key role of the material in the assembling process. The FA/TCPP assembly exhibits dual color fluorescence in the visible region, good photosensitization capability of singlet oxygen, and enhanced photo-induced mortality in KB cancer cells overexpressing folate receptor, if compared with the free components. QC 20170620

During the last decade, it has been both suggested and proven that problem-based learning (PBL) can enhance learning by encouraging students to solve real-life problems and work on interdisciplinary projects. This chapter aims to share experiences and implications for how to develop a successful student group process in an interdisciplinary PBL project. The empirical work focuses on a case of a student-built satellite project (AAUSAT3) at Aalborg University (AAU) in Denmark. From data collected in interviews and observations, this chapter presents both good experiences and limitations of group processes according to four aspects: (1) peer-arranged group formation, (2) task-related group diversity, (3) self-managed groups and shared responsibility, and (4) supervisors as expert learners. The findings imply that it is necessary to (1) develop more effective self-managed student groups and (2) develop interdisciplinary supervision groups to better manage the challenges of complexity arising from interdisciplinarity.

This chapter will bridge theories such as ICT, creativity, learning, and gender in one framework, and particularly focuses on how to meet gender gaps in learning contexts by using ICT and the strategies of developing gender sensitive creativity training programs in developing contexts. In this sense, this chapter contributes to imply both how to encourage more women users and how women can better use ICT for developing contexts in the changes towards creative society. Accordingly, a review on developing ICT-supported educational programs in diverse contexts around the world will be firstly made, which highlights the strategy of learning though ICT is not a new initiative; however, why gender gaps in using ICT are still key issues? This drives this chapter to further discuss gender gaps in developing creativity by ICT from a psychological perspective. Finally, a series of strategies of developing gender sensitive creativity training programs will be discussed in order to facilitate the changes towards a creative society.

Recently, building a creative society has been a new vision of China that brings much discussion on how to foster creative talents and how to improve pedagogic models in Chinese universities. This chapter regards problem-based learning (PBL) as a promising strategy, and accordingly, the following questions will be discussed: 1) How can we understand the context of building a creative society in China? 2) What is a PBL model? 3) How can we understand history of PBL in a global context? 4) What is the theoretical root of PBL? and 5) For Chinese universities, what are boundaries to be broken for facilitating changes towards PBL that benefits to build a creative society? As both challenges and opportunities of fostering PBL in Chinese universities will be revealed, and appropriate strategies of reform will be suggested, this chapter has important significances of pedagogical innovation in Chinese context. In addition, it also implies universities in other cultures for improving innovation strategies in the future.

This chapter aims to formulate a proposal of developing engineering creativity by problem- and project-based pedagogies in STEM programs in university education in China. It will introduce the increasing needs of engineering creativity in China, deepen understanding of the concept of creativity and engineering creativity, and provide a review of diverse models of problem- and project-based pedagogies in STEM programs. This further brings a discussion on how to develop engineering creativity in STEM programs in Chinese universities in order to overcome the barriers caused by traditional education system and culture. A series of strategies will be proposed including supporting student group work, designing interdisciplinary project, facilitating staff development, and developing creative communities, etc. Briefly, this chapter has the significance of developing engineering creativity in China both theoretically and practically, and also implies how to develop problem- and project-based pedagogies in STEM programs in other cultures around the world.

This article aims to study both similarities and differences in female students’ creativity between Mainland China and Taiwan. As two main aspects influencing creativity, playfulness and humor are especially focused on in this comparative study. Empirical data were collected from 831 students in Mainland China and 703 students in Taiwan. Based on data analysis, we find common characteristics, gender differences, and regional differences in the creativity of female postgraduate students. The female students in both regions are less confident in their abilities in scientific research and innovative behavior than males. The female students in Mainland China are less confident in playfulness, humor, and creative life experience than their counterparts. The female students in Taiwan are more masculine than their counterparts in Mainland China.