The aim of this study is to design and develop a Physically Interactive Learning Environment, the PILE system, by integrating video-capture virtual reality technology into a classroom. The system is ...designed for elementary school level English classes where students can interact with the system through physical movements. The system is designed to be easily established with a minimal amount of equipments that includes a personal computer, a webcam, and a projector. The learning activities comprise six stages, holding specific tasks and learning objectives. Each stage is designed with a distinct device. These devices, including a conical cap, a pistol, a searchlight, a magnet, and a spray paint can, are designed to improve the accuracy of detection as well as to increase student enjoyment during the learning process. Furthermore, the system consists of five functional modules, such as providing an interface for teachers to incorporate appropriate learning materials according to their specific teaching requirements. An empirical study is conducted to examine the effects of the use of the PILE system by comparing two different types of English learning methods with 60 second-grade students from two classes at an elementary school in Taiwan. Four different tests are used to assess the different aspects of the system: an English learning achievement test, a questionnaire assessing students’ learning motivation, a Short Feedback Questionnaire (SFQ), and a teacher interview. The results of students’ English learning achievement tests show that there was a significant difference between the pretest and the posttest in the experimental group, as well as between the two groups in the delayed test. These results demonstrate that the system had a significantly beneficial effect on students’ long-term learning. The results from the questionnaires on students’ learning motivation and the SFQ reveal that the system enhanced the students’ learning motivation. The results gained from the teacher’s interview illustrate that the teacher believed this system was beneficial in assisting English learning. All findings collectively demonstrate that the proposed PILE system effectively assist English learning in a classroom environment.
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•A new approach to fabricate TiO2 nanowires through the Ge-assisted catalyst layer.•Ge layer thickness would be a dominant factor in the degradation efficiency of RhB.•The Ge-assisted ...TiO2 nanowires exhibit outstanding field emission characteristics.
In this study, free-standing and well-aligned titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanowires were grown on a Ti foil by precisely controlling the growth temperature and the thickness of the Ge catalyst layer. The catalyst layer played an important role in activating the surface of the Ti foil, facilitating the growth of TiO2 nanowires on it in a chemical vapor deposition furnace system. The structure of the TiO2 nanowires was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic experiment results showed that the optimum Ge catalyst layer thickness significantly improved the rhodamine B (RhB) degradationefficiencyofthe nanowires. The TiO2 nanowires grown using a 40-nm-thick Ge layer could degrade 74% of RhB after 5 h of ultraviolet irradiation. In addition, the TiO2 nanowires exhibited excellent electron field emission performance as compared to the TiO2 nanocrystals grown without the Ge catalyst layer. The results suggested that TiO2 nanowires grown using a Ge catalyst layer are promising materials for next-generation electronic emitters and photocatalytic systems.
Poly(6-cyanoindole) (P(CnId)) is blended with poly(styrenesulfonic acid) via doping periods of 1, 10, 20, and 30 s to obtain P(CnId)–1PSS, P(CnId)–10PSS, P(CnId)–20PSS, and P(CnId)–30PSS electrodes, ...respectively. FT-IR studies have revealed that P(CnId) is doped with PSS. Pt particles can be doped into P(CnId)–1PSS, P(CnId)–10PSS, P(CnId)–20PSS, and P(CnId)–30PSS by chronocoulometry (0.15 C) using electrodeposition to acquire P(CnId)–1PSS–Pt, P(CnId)–10PSS–Pt, P(CnId)–20PSS–Pt, and P(CnId)–30PSS–Pt films, respectively. For comparative purposes, in this study, Pt particles were deposited into P(CnId) under the same conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization revealed that platinum distributes more uniformly into the as-prepared P(CnId)–10PSS films. The anodic peak currents could be clearly observed to reach the saturation point at a methanol concentration larger than 0.8 M. A large electrocatalytic current towards methanol oxidation (27 mA cm−2 mg−1) was noticed in P(CnId)–10PSS–Pt electrodes in comparison to P(CnId)–Pt without PSS (6.3 mA cm−2 mg−1) at +0.86 V (vs. RHE), indicating that the P(CnId)–10PSS–Pt electrode reveals potential applicability as an electrocatalyst support.
•A cyanoindole-based polymer (P(CnId)) was synthesized using electrochemical polymerization.•P(CnId)/PSS electrodes were fabricated using different PSS doping periods.•P(CnId)–10PSS–Pt electrode attains the largest electroactive area for H2 desorption/adsorption.•P(CnId)–10PSS–Pt electrode reveals high electrocatalytic current towards methanol oxidation.•P(CnId)–10PSS–Pt composite is useful for developing promising catalysts in DMFCs.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory inflammatory disease. Patients usually suffer long-term symptoms and high medical expenses. Extracellular ATP (eATP) has been identified as a danger signal in innate ...immunity and serves as a potent inflammatory mediator for asthma. Hydrolyzing eATP in lungs might be a potential approach to alleviate asthmatic inflammation. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors that contain tissue-specific cap protein have been demonstrated to efficiently transfer exogenous genes into the lung tissues. To test anti-inflammation efficacy of rAAV-mediated CD39 gene transfer, rAAV-CD39 was generated and applied to OVA-mediated asthmatic mice. BALB/c mice were sensitized intraperitoneally and challenged intratracheally with OVA and treated with rAAV-CD39. At the end of procedure, some inflammatory features were examined. rAAV-CD39 treatment downregulated the levels of pulmonary eATP by the rescued expression of CD39. Several asthmatic features, such as airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilia, mucin deposition, and IL-5/IL-13 production in the lungs were decreased in the rAAV-CD39-treated mice. Reduced IL-5/IL-13 production and increased frequency of CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells were detected in draining lymph nodes of rAAV-CD39 treated mice. This evidence suggested that rAAV-mediated CD39 gene transfer attenuated the asthmatic airway inflammation locally. The results suggest that rAAV-CD39 might have therapeutic potential for asthma.
Background
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays important roles in normal and pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of CTGF in peritoneal metastasis as ...well as the underlying mechanism in gastric cancer progression.
Methods
CTGF expression levels for wild-type and stable overexpression clones were determined by Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). Univariate and multivariate analyses, immunohistochemistry, and survival probability analyses were performed on gastric cancer patients. The extracellular matrix components involved in CTGF-regulated adhesion were determined. Recombinant CTGF was added to cells or coinoculated with gastric cancer cells into mice to evaluate its therapeutic potential.
Results
CTGF overexpression and treatment with the recombinant protein significantly inhibited cell adhesion. In vivo peritoneal metastasis demonstrated that CTGF-stable transfectants markedly decreased the number and size of tumor nodules in the mesentery. Statistical analysis of gastric cancer patient data showed that patients expressing higher CTGF levels had earlier TNM staging and a higher survival probability after the surgery. Integrin α3β1 was the cell adhesion molecule mediating gastric cancer cell adhesion to laminin, and blocking of integrin α3β1 prevented gastric cancer cell adhesion to recombinant CTGF. Coimmunoprecipitation results indicated that CTGF binds to integrin α3. Coinoculation of recombinant CTGF and gastric cancer cell lines in mice showed effective inhibition of peritoneal dissemination.
Conclusions
Our results suggested that gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis is mediated through integrin α3β1 binding to laminin, and CTGF effectively blocks the interaction by binding to integrin α3β1, thus demonstrating the therapeutic potential of recombinant CTGF in gastric cancer patients.
Solid electrolytes have been considered as some of the most promising candidates for next generation lithium-based batteries because they eliminate the potential safety hazards of liquid organic ...electrolytes and further increase the energy density of batteries. However, inherent defects such as low conductivity and poor interface compatibility with electrodes critically hinder their extensive application. Polyoxometalate Li
7
V
15
O
36
(CO
3
) (LVC) can dissociate Li
+
in electrolyte and possesses a high diffusion coefficient, which constitute a pathway for Li
+
transmission. Herein, a polyoxometalate-based polymer electrolyte (PPE) with an improved electrode interface and ion conductivity for high-safety all-solid-state batteries has been designed and synthesized to further enhance their electrochemistry behaviour. Compared with the routine PEO
18
LiTFSI electrolyte, the ionic conductivity was enhanced. Meanwhile, LVC can improve the interface compatibility between the electrode and electrolyte significantly, which promotes reaction kinetics and suppresses lithium dendrites against Li metal. When employed in LiFePO
4
|Li batteries, the specific discharge capacity after 180 cycles reached 148 mA h g
−1
with a high coulombic efficiency of around 99.9% at 0.5C. According to the result of ARC, LiFePO
4
|C batteries with PPEs are endowed with superior safety as the onset temperature of the self-heating process reaches up to 181.4 °C and the thermal runaway process does not occur within the range of 360 °C, indicating the potential of the PPE for high-safety all-solid-state batteries.
By combining inorganic LVC with organic PEO matrix, a polyoxometalate-based polymer electrolyte (PPE) was constructed for solid state batteries.
Hepatitis promotes the development and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) play critical roles in the development of many cancers. We explored the potential ...roles of RTKs in hepatitis-related liver cancers.
We conducted loss-of-function screening to elucidate the roles of RTKs in the development of HCC
and
.
Many RTKs were coexpressed in HCC and were involved in tumor development and growth. Of these, TYRO3 promoted tumor growth and was clinically associated with hepatitis activity and poor prognosis. In mice, chemical-induced hepatitis transcriptionally activated Tyro3 expression via IL-6/IL6R-STAT3 signaling. Moreover, hepatitis-associated apoptotic cells facilitated the presentation of GAS6, a TYRO3 ligand, to further activate TYRO3-mediated signaling. Furthermore, TYRO3 activation elicited intracellular SRC- and STAT3 signaling. In mice, hepatitis and Tyro3 synergistically promoted HCC development. Silencing TYRO3 expression or inhibiting its kinase activity suppressed xenograft HCC growth in nude mice.
Many RTKs are simultaneously involved in HCC development. Hepatitis exerts dual effects on the activation of TYRO3-mediated signaling in HCC cells, which further elicits the "TYRO3-STAT3-TYRO3" signaling loop to facilitate tumor growth. Our findings unveil a previously unrecognized link between RTKs and hepatitis-associated HCC and suggest TYRO3 as a marker and therapeutic target for the HCCs with higher hepatitis activity.
Background Our objective was to analyze demographics and characteristics of Meckel's diverticulum with different manifestations in pediatric patients. Methods This is a retrospective study in ...children with symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum who underwent resection between September 1998 and October 2010. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery and pathology. Demographic characteristics, manifestations, Meckel's scan results, surgical and histological findings were analyzed. Results One hundred symptomatic Meckel's diverticula were identified in 74 boys and 26 girls aged from one day to 18 years old over 13 years. Depending on whether or not obstruction occurred, the patients were classified into two categories. Each category was further subdivided into two diagnostic groups: 17 intussusception and 24 non-intussusception bowel obstruction in the obstructive category and 44 gastrointestinal bleeding and 15 diverticulitis and/or perforation in the non-obstructive category. The sex discrepancy was higher in the non-obstructive category than in the obstructive category (male-to-female, 4.36 vs. 1.73, p < 0.05). Forty-one of 44 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding underwent a Meckel's scan with a high positive rate (92.7%). The ectopic tissues were identified in 73 patients and included 61 gastric type, two pancreatic type and 10 mixed type. Ectopic tissues were more prevalent in non-obstructive category ( p < 0.05) with ectopic gastric tissue even more pronounced ( p < 0.01). Ectopic pancreatic tissue was significantly more prevalent in intussusception ( p < 0.01). Laparoscopic surgery was performed more frequently in Meckel's diverticulum with non-obstructive symptoms ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Diverse presentations in pediatric Meckel's diverticulum are affected by different ectopic tissue types and male sex. Laparoscopic surgery is widely used for children with non-obstructive symptoms.
The sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) cathode is the focal point of recent research in lithium–sulfur batteries due to its efficient polysulfide shuttle effect and boosting battery efficiency. ...However, the SPAN cathode needs to be enhanced to demonstrate more excellent electrochemical performance and kinetic characteristics encouraged by the chemical makeup of the metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and their effectiveness in the redox reactions of the battery. ZIF67 nanoparticles are grown in situ onto the fiber networks of a high-density glass fiber (GF) separator. They are dynamically activated in a vacuum oven. The open metal sites created after ZIF67 activation can effectively trap anions and improve Li+ transport properties. The transference number (t Li+ ) was predicted to be 0.49, thereby improving the electrochemical performances of the Li-SPAN battery. The anode and cathode exhibited better compatibility with the separator. The Li//Li symmetrical cells based on the ZIF67@GF separator exhibited low polarization and were stable for up to 600 h. A Li/ZIF67@GF/SPAN full cell also showed a small voltage polarization effect and had a starting capacity of 1590 mAh g–1 at 0.1C rate. The improved high-rate capability (ca. 714 mAh g–1 at 10C) of Li/ZIF@GF/SPAN cells was better than that of the Li/bare GF/SPAN cells. The long-term cycling performance was improved significantly, with a decay rate of 0.05% per cycle at 2C over 600 cycles and the ability to perform 1000 cycles at a rate of 5C with 75.3% capacity retention. Thus, our findings support that the Li-SPAN cell equipped with a GF separator with in situ grown ZIF67 nanoparticles substantially improved the electrochemical performance.
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