Video‐based flipped class instruction can strengthen the learning motivation of students. The effectiveness of flipped class instruction on teaching effectiveness and subject satisfaction has been ...evaluated previously. The present study aims to examine the impact of two aspects of subject reading motivation. A total of 100 secondary school students were recruited from 4 classes of 25 students (ie, video‐based flipped Mathematics class, traditional Mathematics class, video‐based flipped Liberal Studies (LS) class and traditional LS class) in two local secondary schools. The same teachers taught both the traditional and video‐based flipped classes in their subject. The students filled in questionnaires which measured: motivation for general reading; motivation for subject reading; academic subject satisfaction and perceived teaching effectiveness of the teachers. Analysis of covariance controlling for motivation for general reading revealed that students in the flipped classes reported significantly lower motivation for subject reading including reading curiosity, reading importance and reading compliance (t (1,98) = 10.52, p < 0.001; t (1,98) = 7.68, p < 0.001; t (1,98) = 20.39, p < 0.001, respectively). However, students in the flipped classes reported significantly higher satisfaction and teaching effectiveness than those in the traditional classes (t (1,98) = −15.61. p < 0.001; t (1,98) = −11.98, p <0.001, respectively). A partial correlation controlling for motivation for general reading indicated that motivation for subject reading was negatively associated with academic subject satisfaction and perceived teaching effectiveness of teachers (rs ranged from −0.51 to −0.62, p < 0.001). Video‐based flipped class instruction was not only related to increased academic subject satisfaction and teaching effectiveness but also associated with lower motivation for subject reading. These findings suggest that video‐based flipped class instruction had limited capability to strengthen the learning motivation of students.
Noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal aneuploidy by maternal plasma analysis is challenging owing to the low fractional and absolute concentrations of fetal DNA in maternal plasma. Previously, we ...demonstrated for the first time that fetal DNA in maternal plasma could be specifically targeted by epigenetic (DNA methylation) signatures in the placenta. By comparing one such methylated fetal epigenetic marker located on chromosome 21 with another fetal genetic marker located on a reference chromosome in maternal plasma, we could infer the relative dosage of fetal chromosome 21 and noninvasively detect fetal trisomy 21. Here we apply this epigenetic-genetic (EGG) chromosome dosage approach to detect Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) in the fetus noninvasively.
We have systematically identified methylated fetal epigenetic markers on chromosome 18 by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) and tiling array analysis with confirmation using quantitative DNA methylation assays. Methylated DNA sequences from an intergenic region between the VAPA and APCDD1 genes (the VAPA-APCDD1 DNA) were detected in pre-delivery, but not post-delivery, maternal plasma samples. The concentrations correlated positively with those of an established fetal genetic marker, ZFY, in pre-delivery maternal plasma. The ratios of methylated VAPA-APCDD1(chr18) to ZFY(chrY) were higher in maternal plasma samples of 9 male trisomy 18 fetuses than those of 27 male euploid fetuses (Mann-Whitney test, P=0.029). We defined the cutoff value for detecting trisomy 18 fetuses as mean+1.96 SD of the EGG ratios of the euploid cases. Eight of 9 trisomy 18 and 1 of 27 euploid cases showed EGG ratios higher than the cutoff value, giving a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 96.3%.
Our data have shown that the methylated VAPA-APCDD1 DNA in maternal plasma is predominantly derived from the fetus. We have demonstrated that this novel fetal epigenetic marker in maternal plasma is useful for the noninvasive detection of fetal trisomy 18.
This article examines the process by which Information Technology (IT) capabilities affect innovation performance. The results of a survey of sixty-five matched business executives (chief information ...officers and chief financial officers) of firms in China show that market orientation fully mediates the effect of IT capabilities on innovation performance. The implications of this finding and limitations of this study are discussed.
The mechanisms underlying land development in China between 1949 and 1977 are outlined by adopting a better-informed framework of the Chinese state and economy. Resources have been siphoned away from ...the urban land development process in response to shortages in inputs in the resource-constrained economy.
Gold(iii) complexes are attractive candidates as phosphorescent dopants in organic light-emitting devices for high-luminance full-colour displays. However, no data on the stability of such devices ...have been reported to date. Through rational molecular design and synthesis, we have successfully generated a new class of cyclometalated gold(iii) C^C^N complexes with tunable emission colours spanning from sky-blue to red. These complexes exhibit high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 80% in solid-state thin films, excellent solubility and high thermal stability. Solution-processable and vacuum-deposited organic light-emitting devices based on these complexes operate with external quantum efficiencies of up to 11.9% and 21.6%, respectively, and operational half-lifetimes of up to 83,000 h at 100 cd m−2.Cyclometalated gold(iii) complexes are shown to offer tunable emission colours spanning from sky-blue to red and enable the fabrication of phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices with high external quantum efficiency and long lifetimes.
Transition metal oxides are capable of a wide range of work functions. This quality allows them to be used in many applications that involve charge transfer with adsorbed molecules, for example as ...heterogeneous catalysts, as charge‐injection layers in organic electronics, and as electrodes in fuel cells. Chemical and structural factors can alter transition‐metal oxide work functions, often making their work functions difficult to control. Little is known about the effects of the cation oxidation state and point defects on the oxide work function. It is necessary to understand how such chemical and structural factors affect work functions in order to controllably tune transition metal oxides for desired applications. Here, a correlation between the oxide work function and cation oxidation state is demonstrated. This correlation is attributed to the change in cation electronegativity with oxidation state. A model is presented that relates the work function to the oxygen deficiency for d0 oxides in the limit of dilute oxygen vacancies. It is proposed that the rapid initial decrease in work function, observed for d0 oxides, is caused by an increase in the density of donor‐like defect states. It is also shown that oxides tend to have decreased work functions near a metal/metal‐oxide interface as a consequence of the relationship between defects and work function. These insights provide guidelines for tuning transition metal oxide work functions.
The work functions of transition‐metal oxides are correlated with the oxidation states of their metal cations. Due to the relationship between electronegativity and oxidation state, reduced oxides tend to have lower work functions. The trends revealed provide guidelines for tuning transition metal oxide work functions.
The prevalence of COVID‐19 has caused global dysfunction in terms of public health, sustainability, and socio‐economy. While vaccination shows potential in containing the spread, the development of ...surfaces that effectively reduces virus transmission and infectivity is also imperative, especially amid the early stage of the pandemic. However, most virucidal surfaces are operated under harsh conditions, making them impractical or potentially unsafe for long‐term use. Here, it is reported that laser‐induced graphene (LIG) without any metal additives shows marvelous antiviral capacities for coronavirus. Under low solar irradiation, the virucidal efficacy of the hydrophobic LIG (HLIG) against HCoV‐OC43 and HCoV‐229E can achieve 97.5% and 95%, respectively. The photothermal effect and the hydrophobicity of the HLIG synergistically contribute to the superior inactivation capacity. The stable antiviral performance of HLIG enables its multiple uses, showing advantages in energy saving and environmental protection. This work discloses a potential method for antiviral applications and has implications for the future development of antiviral materials.
The hydrophobic laser‐induced graphene (HLIG) enables effective inactivation of coronavirus from the synergy of photothermal effect and hydrophobicity. The non‐metal HLIG achieves a 97.5% and 95% virucidal efficacy for HCoV‐OC43 and HCoV‐229E in 15 min under solar irradiation. In addition, the antiviral performance of HLIG is stable after multiple uses.
When transition metal oxides are used in practical applications, such as organic electronics or heterogeneous catalysis, they often must be in contact with a metal. Metal contacts can affect an ...oxide's chemical and electronic properties within the first few nanometers of the contact, resulting in changes to an oxide's chemical reactivity, conductivity, and energy‐level alignment properties. These effects can alter an oxide's ability to perform its intended function. Thus, the choice of contacting metal becomes an important design consideration when tailoring the properties of transition‐metal oxide thin films or nanoparticles. Here, metal/metal‐oxide interfaces involving a widely used oxide in organic electronics, MoO3, are examined. It is demonstrated that metal contacts tend to reduce the Mo6+ cation to lower oxidation states and, consequently, alter MoO3’s valence electronic structure and work function when the oxide layer is very thin (less than 10 nm). MoO3 becomes semimetallic and has a lower work function near metal contacts. The observed behavior is attributed to two causes: 1) charge transfer from the metal Fermi level into MoO3’s low‐lying conduction band and 2) an oxidation‐reduction reaction between the metal and MoO3 that results in oxidation of the metal and reduction of MoO3. These results illustrate how interfaces are important to an oxide's ability to provide energy‐level alignment.
Metal/metal‐oxide interfaces are important for many electronic devices. It is shown that chemical and electronic interfacial interactions between metals and oxides result in nanometer‐scale changes to the work function and electronic band structure for MoO3.
Since the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to treat immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is controversial, we extended our original study by following 40 Chinese patients with established IgA ...nephropathy for 6 years. All patients were maintained on their angiotensin blockade medication and half were randomized to receive MMF for 6 months. After 6 years, 11 patients required dialysis (2 from the MMF and 9 from the control group). Significantly, only 3 treated (as compared to 10 control) patients reached the composite end point of serum creatinine doubling or end-stage renal disease. Linear regression showed the annualized decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly less in the MMF-treated group. Urinary protein excretion and the albumin-to-creatinine ratio were lower with MMF treatment during the first 24 months, beyond which there was no difference between groups. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria, and change in the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio at 1 year to be important predictors of progression to end-stage renal disease. We found that among Chinese patients with IgA nephropathy who had mild histologic lesions and persistent proteinuria despite maximal angiotensin blockade, MMF treatment may result in transient and partial remission of proteinuria in the short-term and renoprotection in the long-term.
This study applied Illumina high-throughput sequencing to explore the microbial communities and functions in anaerobic digestion sludge (ADS) from two wastewater treatment plants based on a ...metagenomic view. Taxonomic analysis using SILVA SSU database indicated that
Proteobacteria
(9.52–13.50 %),
Bacteroidetes
(7.18 %–10.65 %) and
Firmicutes
(7.53 %–9.46 %) were the most abundant phyla in the ADS. Differences of microbial communities between the two types of ADS were identified. Genera of
Methanosaeta
and
Methanosarcina
were the major methanogens. Functional analysis by SEED subsystems showed that the basic metabolic functions of metagenomes in the four ADS samples had no significant difference among them, but they were different from other microbial communities from activated sludge, human faeces, ocean and soil. Abundances of genes in methanogenesis pathway were also quantified using a methanogenesis genes database extracted from KEGG. Results showed that acetotrophic was the major methanogenic pathway in the anaerobic sludge digestion.
PDF
