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In recent years, smart classrooms have been widely constructed in colleges and universities. To help the design of student-centred smart classroom in compliance with students’ information literacy levels and enable all students to adapt to the smart classroom smoothly, this study utilised a quantitative method to investigate the information literacy and preferences for smart classroom learning environments (PSCLE) of 873 Chinese college students. The results indicated statistically significant effects of college students’ information literacy on the eight dimensions of students’ PSCLE (student negotiation, inquiry learning, reflective thinking, usefulness, ease of use, multiple sources, connectedness, functional design). In addition, three profiles could be identified regarding students’ information literacy. Students with a high level of information literacy obtained significantly higher scores on four of the critical dimensions of PSCLE (student negotiation, inquiry learning, reflective thinking and functional design) than those students with medium or low levels of information literacy. Based on the results, we suggest that college students’ information literacy and their PSCLE should be considered by researchers and education practitioners when designing, constructing and evaluating smart classroom learning environments. Implications for practice or policy: Schools should evaluate students’ information literacy and equip smart classrooms with various information communication technology devices to cater to students’ varying levels of information literacy. Instructors or curriculum designers should develop differentiated instruction strategies and activities for students, in alignment with different levels of information literacy. Institutions and organisations should reconsider evaluation criteria for smart classrooms and incorporate the improvement of students’ information literacy as an important indicator.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been suggested to play an important role in cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We have confirmed that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (BMSC-EX) had similar types of repair like effects upon tissues as BMSC, but the mechanisms remain unknown. BMSC were cultured to the third generation and were induced to release exosomes. Rats were injected with exosomes (100 μg/mL) or stem cells (1 × 10

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a kind of natural toxin which exists widely in aquatic environments and has been reported to be hepatotoxic and carcinogenic. At present, the promoting mechanism of MC-LR on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unexplored. In this study, the hepatocellular promoting effect of MC-LR was described in Kras

ObjectiveTo evaluate the risk of major infections and the relationship between major infections and mortality in patients with newly diagnosed SLE.MethodsA newly diagnosed (ResultsAmong the 494 patients enrolled in the hSLIC cohort, there were 69 documented episodes of major infections during the first year of follow-up in 67 (14%) patients. The major infection events predominantly occurred within the first 4 months since enrolment (94%, 65/69) and were associated with all-cause mortality. After adjustments for glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant exposure, a prediction model based on SLE Disease Activity Index >10, peripheral lymphocyte count 9/L and serum creatinine >104 µmol/L was established to identify patients at low risk (3%–5%) or high risk (37%–39%) of major infections within the first 4 months.ConclusionsNewly onset active SLE is susceptible to major infections, which is probably due to underlying profound immune disturbance. Identifying high-risk patients using an appropriate prediction tool might lead to better tailored management and better outcome.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the interaction effects of spokes-character dynamism (high vs low) and brand personality (sincere vs competent) on consumers’ evaluation and the mediating role of processing fluency. Design/methodology/approach Two experiments were conducted to test the hypotheses. Study 1 establishes the interaction effect between evoked spokes-character dynamism and brand personality on brand trust and examines the mediating role of processing fluency. By introducing a control group and using purchase intention as the dependent variable, Study 2 further extends the results of Study 1. Findings The results of Studies 1 and 2 show that for sincere brands, spokes-characters with high dynamic imagery contribute to significantly higher consumer evaluation than the control group and the group of spokes-characters with low dynamic imagery. However, for competent brands, spokes-characters with low dynamic imagery contribute to significantly higher consumer evaluation than the control group and the group of spokes-characters with high dynamic imagery. In addition, processing fluency mediates the interaction effect between evoked spokes-character dynamism and brand personality on consumers’ evaluation. Research limitations/implications The studies considered only one method, “frozen motion,” to evoke perceived movement. Further studies using other methods are needed to allow for generalization. Practical implications The discerning use of dynamic imagery in spokes-character design involving advertisements may aid marketers in maximizing spokes-characters’ effect on consumers’ evaluation. Originality/value The perceived movement of spokes-characters is integrated into the cognition of brand personality. Marketers should take into account how the match between spokes-character dynamism and brand personality may influence consumers’ evaluation of the brand.

Diarrhea, occurring due to intestinal flora disturbance, is potentially lethal, and its current treatments have adverse effects such as constipation and vomiting. Camelina sativa oil (CSO) is a cooking ingredient and natural remedy used in several countries; however, its pharmacological effects on intestinal health remain unknown. Here, we explored the CSO treatment effects on intestinal flora in male ICR mice with castor oil-induced diarrhea. The rate and degree of loose stools, the diarrhea index, serum inflammatory indices, fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and the diversity and abundance of intestinal flora were measured. Castor oil-administered mice experienced diarrhea, reduced intestinal flora diversity and fecal SCFAs concentrations, altered intestinal flora composition, and increased serum proinflammatory indices. In contrast, CSO treatment relieved diarrhea, improved intestinal flora composition, and increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae. Additionally, CSO significantly increased the concentrations of fecal propionic acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, and serum sIgA, while it reduced those of serum interleukin-17. These findings suggest that CSO could be a promising preventive agent against diarrhea.

Camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] seed has long been consumed as a source of food in Canada. But limited information is available concerning the systematical evaluation of the composition, content, and antioxidant activity of Camelina seed polyphenol extract (CSPE). Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify, quantify and evaluate the antioxidant activity of CSPE. The result showed that eight compositions were identified and determined by the UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS2 analysis. CSPE has potent free radical scavenging capacity. CSPE treatment significantly increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and glutathione content in a dose-dependent manner in RAW264.7 cells with oxidative injury and also reduced malondialdehyde content (P < 0.01). It may be concluded that CSPE has a strong antioxidant activity as depicted by the in vitro experiments and thus possesses the potential to be developed as food antioxidants or as an ingredient in functional foods.

This study explored the combined effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO

Based on social cognitive theory, this study aimed to examine the personal, behavioral, and environmental determinants of students’ information literacy in China. Participants in the study included 2127 students, 1432 parents, and 948 teachers. The research findings were as follows: (1) positive determinants were environmental influences from parents’ information and communication technology (ICT) usage and ICT interest, as well as teachers’ ICT self-efficacy and collaborative ICT usage; (2) students’ personal influences suggested that possessing higher levels of ICT self-efficacy or ICT interest was related to higher levels of information literacy; (3) students’ behavioral influences showed that in-school and out-of-school ICT usage did not significantly influence students’ overall information literacy level. Based on the findings, suggestions for improving students’ information literacy are presented.

This study explored the combined effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) on the neurodevelopment of zebrafish larvae as well as the underlying mechanisms. With this regard, zebrafish embryos were exposed to nano-TiO2 of 100 μg·L−1, TPhP of 0, 8, 24, 72, and 144 μg·L−1, or their combinations until 120 h post-fertilization (hpf). Results indicated 100 μg·L−1 nano-TiO2 alone to be nontoxic to zebrafish larvae. However, obvious developmental toxicity manifested as inhibition of surviving rate, heart rate and body length as well as increased malformation was observed in the higher concentrations of TPhP (72 and 144 μg·L−1) alone and the co-exposure groups. Additionally, results suggested that nano-TiO2 significantly enhanced the bioaccumulation of TPhP in zebtafish larvae, and thus aggravated the abnormities of spontaneous movement and swimming behavior in zebrafish larvae induced by TPhP. Nano-TiO2 also exacerbated the TPhP-induced inhibition of the axonal growth on the secondary motor neuron, and aggravated the TPhP-induced decrease on expressions of neuron-specific green fluorescent protein (GFP) and neuronal marker genes (ngn1 and elavl3). Further, the content of neurotransmitter serotonin was not altered by TPhP alone exposure, but was decreased significantly in the co-exposure group of 144 μg·L−1 TPhP and nano-TiO2. Our data indicated that nano-TiO2 might aggravate the neuron abnormities and serotonin system dysfunction by enhancing the TPhP accumulation, leading to exacerbated abnormal locomotors in zebrafish larvae.

This study proposed a conceptual assessment framework of students' information literacy based on the Evidence-Centered Design (ECD) model. Firstly, student model was designed to describe the relevant variables of knowledge, skills and abilities to be measured in terms of students' information literacy. Secondly, evidence model was presented, including the evidence rules and measurement model of students' information literacy. Thirdly, task model was proposed to describe various kinds of tasks in order to obtain the evidence needed by the evidence model. Then, the implementation of students' information literacy assessment based on the ECD model was introduced. Finally, the authors proposed future studies regarding with empirical research on students' information literacy assessment based on the ECD model.

Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) is an environmental contaminant that poses serious risks to aquatic organisms and their associated ecosystem. Recently, the reproductive and developmental toxicology of TBOEP has been reported. However, fewer studies have assessed the neurotoxic effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. In this study, zebrafish embryos were subjected to waterborne exposure of TBOEP at 0, 50, 500, 1500 and 2500 μg/L from 2 to 144-h post-fertilization (hpf). Behavioral measurements showed that TBOEP exposure reduced embryonic spontaneous movement and decreased swimming speed of larvae in response to dark stimulation. In accordance with these motor effects, TBOEP treatment reduced neuron-specific GFP expression in transgenic Tg (HuC-GFP) zebrafish larvae and inhibited the growth of secondary motoneurons, as well as decreased expression of marker genes related to central nervous system development in TBOEP treated group. Furthermore, increased concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as reduction of SOD activity were detected in TBOEP exposure group. The present results showed that the alteration in motor neuron and oxidative stress could together lead to the motor behavior alterations induced by TBOEP.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is widely distributed in the natural environment and causes hepatotoxicity. However, whether MC-LR promotes liver tumor progression remains controversial. krasV12 transgenic zebrafish were used as an inducible liver tumor model to evaluate the potential tumor-promoting effect of MC-LR. First, krasV12 transgenic larvae were exposed to 0, 0.1 and 1 mg/L MC-LR with 20 mg/L doxycycline (Dox) for 4 d. The gray values and histopathological examinations of the liver demonstrated that MC-LR aggravated liver tumor progression, which could be inhibited by the Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (Prmt5) inhibitor compound 5 (CMP5). Second, 1-month-old juvenile transgenic zebrafish were exposed to 0, 20 mg/L Dox, 1 μg/L MC-LR, and 20 mg/L Dox with 0.1 or 1 μg/L MC-LR for 15 d to determine whether the exposure to environmental concentrations of MC-LR promoted hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. We found that environmental concentrations of MC-LR increased the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and gray value (intensity/area) and promoted HCC progression. The results indicate that environmental concentrations of MC-LR have the potential to promote liver tumor progression. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that MC-LR can promote tumor in krasV12 transgenic zebrafish and that the upregulation of prmt5 expression might contribute to MC-LR-mediated promotion of liver tumorigenesis.

Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) could have neurotoxic effects and alter motor behaviors in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae, however, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. In this study, zebrafish embryos were subjected to waterborne exposure of TDCIPP at 100, 300, 600, 900 μg/L from 2 to 120-h post-fertilization (hpf). Behavioral measurements indicate that TDCIPP exposure significantly elevated spontaneous movement, and altered swimming behavior response of larvae to both light and dark stimulation. Interestingly, in accordance with these motor effects, TDCIPP significantly decreased expression of the neuron-specific GFP in transgenic (HuC-GFP) zebrafish larvae as well as decreased expression of the neural marker genes elavl3 and ngn1, inhibited the axonal growth of the secondary motoneurons and altered the expressions of axon-related genes (α1-tubulin, shha and netrin2) in zebrafish larvae. Furthermore, TDCIPP exposure at 900 μg/L significantly increased the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, and decreased the total acetylcholine (ACh) concentration. Our data indicate that the alteration in motor neuron and inhibition of cholinergic system could together lead to the TDCIPP induced motor behavior alterations in zebrafish larvae.

Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP), is used as a flame retardant worldwide. It is an additive in materials and can be easily discharged into the surrounding environment. There is evidence linking TBOEP exposure to abnormal development and growth in zebrafish embryos/larvae. Here, using zebrafish embryo as a model, we investigated toxicological effects on developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) caused by TBOEP at concentrations of 0, 20, 200, 1000, 2000μg/L starting from 2h post-fertilization (hpf). Our findings revealed that TBOEP exposure caused developmental toxicity, such as malformation, growth delay and decreased heart rate in zebrafish larvae. Correlation analysis indicated that inhibition of growth was possibly due to down-regulation of expression of genes related to the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis. Furthermore, exposure to TBOEP significantly increased thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) in whole larvae. In addition, changed expression of genes involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis was observed, indicating that perturbation of HPT axis might be responsible for the developmental damage and growth delay induced by TBOEP. The present study provides a new set of evidence that exposure of embryo-larval zebrafish to TBOEP can cause perturbation of GH/IGF axis and HPT axis, which could result in developmental impairment and growth inhibition.

Outlier detection is a significant problem in data mining and machine learning which aims to discover objects in a data set that do not conform to well-defined notions of expected behavior. Generally, the input of the existing outlier detection algorithms is a collection of n objects and each object is described by a feature vector. However, in many real world applications, an object is not only described by one feature vector, but a number of feature vectors. In this paper, we define an object described by more than one feature vector as a matrix-object. Inspired by the concepts of cohesion and coupling in software engineering, we define the coupling of a matrix-object based on the average distance between it and other matrix-objects, and define its cohesion based on information entropy and mutual information. On this basis, the outlier factor of a matrix-object is given, and an outlier detection algorithm for categorical matrix-object data is proposed. The experimental results on real and synthetic data sets have shown that the proposed outlier detection algorithm can effectively detect outliers for the matrix-object data set compared with other algorithms.

Common wild rice ( Oryza rufipogon ), the ancestor of Asian domesticated rice ( Oryza sative ), is used as a comparator for identifying Oryza species in archaeological records. However, little attention has been paid to the characteristics of the grain morphology, double-peaked phytoliths and starch granules in ancient wild rice. Dongxiang wild rice is believed to be the current northernmost extent of wild Oryza in Asia, but few studies have been reported on the history of its growth in Dongxiang. A stratigraphic, chronological analysis of the ancient wild rice remains discovered in the sediment core at the Anjiashan in situ conservation (ISC) site in Dongxiang proves that wild rice may have been present in Dongxiang since at least 500–300 cal. BP, which includes the period of climatic variations commonly called the “Little Ice Age”. Furthermore, based on a comparison between ancient and modern wild rice, as well as some indica (Huixiang 9126), japonica (Bijing 37) cultivars, it is demonstrated that the grain size of wild rice, in contrast to the double-peaked phytolith and starch granule parameters, changed little during the “Little Ice Age” of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China, and that in terms of grain shape analysis wild rice is easily confused with indica . This may be one of the reasons why traditional grain shape and grain size analysis usually does not work well in classifying the Oryza species, and why some rice remains from archaeological sites were mainly indica as judged from their shapes but japonica in terms of their morphological parameters of double-peaked phytoliths and spikelets. Our findings may not only assist in elucidating the spatiotemporal distribution of wild rice, but can also provide important reference parameters for the identification of Oryza species in archaeological records.

In data mining, the input of most algorithms is a set of n objects and each object is described by a feature vector. However, in many real database applications, an object is described by more than one feature vector. In this paper, we call an object described by more than one feature vector as a matrix-object and a data set consisting of matrix-objects as a matrix-object data set. We propose a k -multi-weighted-modes (abbr. k -mw-modes) algorithm for clustering categorical matrix-object data. In this algorithm, we define the distance between two categorical matrix-objects and a multi-weighted-modes representation of cluster prototypes is proposed. We give a heuristic method to choose the locally optimal multi-weighted-modes in the iteration of the k -mw-modes algorithm. We validated the effectiveness and benefits of the k -mw-modes algorithm on the five real data sets from different applications.

In 2008, we isolated a strain of an Amphobotrys sp., CotAr-12, from a cotton plant showing Verticillium wilt symptoms in Hubei Province, China. In October 2010 and 2011, surveys for Amphobotrys sp. on cotton were conducted in 14 counties in Hubei. No signs of an Amphobotrys sp. was observed on cotton. However, a gray mold disease was found on the weed, Acalypha australis in 40 of 51 cotton fields with an average disease incidence of 18.6%. The disease started on the inflorescences at the top of stems or branches and then spread downward to the main stems, branches, and leaves. Abundant sporulation on the necrotic tissues and formation of sclerotia underneath the epidermis or in the stem pith were evident. A total of 128 isolates, including CopAr-5, were obtained from A. australis (1 to 10 isolates per field). All isolates from A. australis and CotAr-12 appeared similar in colony morphology; ragged colony margins, erect conidiophores with long stipes and dichotomous branches at the top, globose and subhyaline conidia with an average diameter of 5.3 to 8.5 μm, and black, oval sclerotia of 0.6 to 26.2 × 0.5 to 19.0 mm. These characteristics matched the description for Amphobotrys ricini (Buchw.) Hennebert (teleomorph Botryotinia ricini [Godfrey] Whetzel) (2). Strains CopAr-5 and CotAr-12 were selected for molecular identification. DNA was extracted from mycelia and used for cloning of three nuclear genes (e.g., G3PDH, HSP60, and RPB2) using the procedures described by Staats et al. (4). The resulting DNA sequences were used for phylogenetic analysis with the corresponding sequences for Botrytis spp. (4). Results showed that strains CopAr-5 (GenBank Accession Nos. JN681883, JN681881, and JN6981879), CotAr-12 (GenBank Accession Nos. JN681882, JN681880, and JN6981878), and Botrytis (teleomorph Botrytinia) ricini (GenBank Accession Nos. GQ860998, GQ860996, and GQ860997) formed a separate clade that was distinct from Botrytis spp., supporting the distinction of Amphobotrys from Botrytis and suggesting that the two strains were Amphobotrys ricini. Pathogenicity was determined by placing mycelia of strains CopAr-5 and CotAr-12 on 10 detached leaves of A. australis, castor bean, and cotton. Control leaves of these plants were inoculated with potato dextrose agar alone. After incubation at 20°C under moist conditions (>90% relative humidity) for 60 h, the control leaves remained healthy, while the leaves of A. australis and castor bean inoculated with both strains formed extensively expanded lesions of 20 and 27 mm in diameter on average, respectively. Both strains also caused disease on cotton leaves with discontinuous and localized lesions of 18 mm in average diameter. A fungus was reisolated from the leaf lesions on these plant species and were identical to Amphobotrys ricini in colony morphology and conidial characteristics. We conclude that Amphobotrys ricini is a major pathogen on A. australis in central China. It is an important pathogen of castor bean (1) and has been reported to infect several euphorbiaceous plants, including A. hispida (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Amphobotrys ricini on A. australis. References: (1) G. H. Godfrey. J. Agric. Res. 23:679, 1923, (2) G. L. Hennebert. Persoonia 7:183, 1973. (3) B. V. Lima et al. Australas. Plant Dis. Notes 3:5, 2008. (4) M. Staats et al. Mol. Biol. Evol. 22:333, 2005.

Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant due to its overuse. TBOEP has been found to cause reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption during acute toxic experiment. In this study, we examined the effects of TBOEP on growth in initial generation (F0) zebrafish and transgenerational effects on growth of first generation (F1) larvae after parental long-term exposure (120 d) to environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg/L). Exposure to TBOEP resulted in significantly less growth as measured by body length, body weight and gonadosomatic index (GSI) in F0 females but not F0 males. Furthermore, the bioaccumulation of TBOEP in gonad, the alteration of the gene transcriptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and the delay in gonadal development in both female and male zebrafish were demonstrated. In addition, the residues of TBOEP were detected in F1 larvae after parental exposure, resulting in lower survival and shorter body length, as well as faster heart rate. And no significant changes in gene expressions along the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis were found in F1 larvae. In conclusion, these results indicated that long-term parental exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of TBOEP could inhibit the development of progeny by parental gonadal impairment and by TBOEP transfer to offspring, instead of gene transcription in GH/IGF and HPT axes.

Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) has been demonstrated to be transferred from parental animals to their offspring. However, whether parental exposure to environmental concentrations of TDCIPP show neurodevelopmental toxicity in the F1 generation and the possible underlying mechanism remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to environmental concentrations of TDCIPP (3, 30 and 300 ng L−1) for 120 days. The effects of exposure on motor behaviors, neurotransmitter levels, DNA methylation, and gene expression of F1 larvae were investigated. Parental exposure left TDCIPP residues in F1 eggs as well as reduced body length of F1 larvae. Moreover, parental exposure significantly reduced swimming activity in F1 5 dpf larvae, although it did not significantly alter serotonin, dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, γ-aminobutyrate, and acetylcholine levels. Genes encoding DNA methylation transferases (dnmt3aa and dnmt1) were downregulated in F1 larvae. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing analysis revealed 446 differentially methylated regions and enriched neuronal cell body Gene Ontology term in F1 generation. Correlation analysis between the expression of genes related to neural cell body and swimming speed indicated that solute carrier family 1 member 2b (slc1a2b) downregulation might be responsible for the inhibition of motor behaviors. Furthermore, bisulfite amplicon sequencing analysis confirmed hypermethylation of the promoter region of slc1a2b in F1 larvae following parental exposure to 300 ng L−1 TDCIPP, which might have led to significant downregulation of gene expression and, in turn, influenced the motor behaviors. These results indicate that parental exposure to environmental concentrations of TDCIPP alters DNA methylation, downregulates gene expressions and, thus inducing developmental neurotoxicity, in F1 larvae.