In this study, an explanatory sequential design was utilized to examine the impact of strategy-based instruction (SBI) on the writing performance and motivation of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) ...learners in a writing course. A total of 50 Chinese EFL students were selected from two intact classes and were randomly assigned to either the control group (n = 24) or the experimental group (n = 26). The experimental group received a sixteen-week metacognition training program integrated into the writing course, while the control group was provided with conventional writing instruction. Data collection was performed through timed writing tasks, a second language writing motivation scale, and semi-structured interviews. The results indicated that the experimental group exhibited a significant improvement in both writing performance and motivation, in comparison to the control group. This study provides empirical evidence for the benefits of SBI in promoting students’ writing competency and motivation. The findings have important implications for researchers and educators in the field of EFL writing instruction.
Plain Language Summary
This study aimed to investigate the effects of a strategy-based writing instruction program on the writing performance and motivation of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. The researchers selected 50 Chinese EFL students and divided them into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group received a sixteen-week training program that focused on metacognitive writing strategies, while the control group received traditional writing instruction. The researchers collected data through timed writing tasks, a writing motivation scale, and interviews. The findings of the study revealed that the students in the experimental group showed significant improvement in both their writing performance and motivation compared to the control group. This suggests that the strategy-based instruction had a positive impact on their attitudes, interest, and engagement in writing tasks. The explicit instruction of writing strategies, along with regular practice and feedback, contributed to the students’ increased confidence and sense of competence in writing. The study highlights the importance of addressing learners’ motivational factors in language instruction. By integrating metacognitive strategies into writing instruction, educators can enhance students’ motivation and overall writing skills. This has important implications for EFL classrooms, as it provides evidence that a strategic approach to writing instruction can lead to better outcomes for students. However, it is important to note that this study also has limitations. The sample size was relatively small, and the study was conducted in a specific context with Chinese EFL learners. Therefore, the generalizability of the findings may be limited to similar contexts. Future research could explore the effectiveness of strategy-based writing instruction in different settings and with larger samples to further validate the study’s findings. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the positive impact of strategy-based writing instruction on EFL learners’ writing performance and motivation. By incorporating explicit writing strategies and providing regular practice and feedback, educators can empower students to become more confident and proficient writers. The findings suggest that a strategic approach to writing instruction can benefit students in their language learning journey.
Combining hydrothermal synthesis, electrodeposition with soaking process, we synthesized coaxial nanowire arrays consisting of Co3O4 nanowire as the core, polypyrrole (PPy) as the inner shell and ...MnO2 outer layer as the exodermis. The key to fabricate one-dimensional hierarchical architecture, Co3O4@PPy@MnO2 “core–shell–shell” nanowires, was to introduce a PPy intermediate layer on the surface of Co3O4 nanowire, which could enhance the conductivity of nanowire arrays and act as a reactive template to induce a coating of amorphous MnO2. The device based on the ternary composite Co3O4@PPy@MnO2 nanowire arrays exhibited prominent electrochemical performance with a high energy density of 34.3Whkg−1 at a power density of 80.0Wkg−1 and a remarkable long-term cycling stability. In addition, the performance of as-assembled asymmetrical supercapacitor was demonstrated using a DC motor. The results imply that ternary composite based electrode materials have enormous potential for energy storage devices and systems.
We report supercapacitor electrode materials composed of ternary composite, i.e. Co3O4 nanowires as the core, polypyrrole (PPy) as the inner shell and MnO2 outer layer as the exodermis, and demonstrate their electrochemical performance for energy storage applications. Display omitted
•Co3O4@PPy@MnO2 core–shell–shell nanowire arrays were synthesized as electrode materials.•The assembled asymmetric supercapacitor exhibits excellent cycling behavior.•The as-prepared device is capable of driving a DC mini-motor for ca. 30s.
The development of upscalable oxygen evolving electrocatalysts from earth-abundant metals able to operate in neutral or acidic environments and low overpotentials remains a fundamental challenge for ...the realization of artificial photosynthesis. In this study, we report a highly active phase of heterobimetallic cyanide-bridged electrocatalysts able to promote water oxidation under neutral, basic (pH < 13), and acidic conditions (pH > 1). Cobalt–iron Prussian blue-type thin films, formed by chemical etching of Co(OH)1.0(CO3)0.5·nH2O nanocrystals, yield a dramatic enhancement of the catalytic performance toward oxygen production, when compared with previous reports for analogous materials. Electrochemical, spectroscopic, and structural studies confirm the excellent performance, stability, and corrosion resistance, even when compared with state-of-the-art metal oxide catalysts under moderate overpotentials and in a remarkably large pH range, including acid media where most cost-effective water oxidation catalysts are not useful. The origin of the superior electrocatalytic activity toward water oxidation appears to be in the optimized interfacial matching between catalyst and electrode surface obtained through this fabrication method.
The optimization of multiple interfaces in hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) based composites for photoelectrochemical water splitting to facilitate charge transport in the bulk is of paramount importance to ...obtain enhanced solar-to-fuel efficiency. Herein, we report the fabrication of ITO/Fe 2 O 3 /Fe 2 TiO 5 /FeNiOOH multi-layer nanowires and a series of systematic experiments designed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the interfacial coupling effect of the quaternary hematite composite. The hierarchical ITO/Fe 2 O 3 /Fe 2 TiO 5 /FeNiOOH nanowires display photocurrents that are more than an order of magnitude greater than those of pristine Fe 2 O 3 nanowires (from 0.205 mA cm −2 to 2.2 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE and 1 Sun), and higher than those of most of the recently reported state-of-the-art hematite composites. Structural, compositional and electrochemical investigations disclose that the surface states (SS) are finely regulated via the atomic addition of an Fe 2 TiO 5 layer and FeNiOOH nanodots, while the upgrading of back contact conductivity and charge donor densities originate from the epitaxial relationship and enhanced Sn doping contributed from the ITO underlayer. We attribute the superior water oxidation performance to the interfacial coupling effect of the ITO underlayer (Sn doping and back contact conductivity promoter), the atomic level Fe 2 TiO 5 coating (Ti doping, surface state density and energy level modulation) and the FeNiOOH nanodot electrocatalyst (regulating surface state energy level). Our work suggests an effective pathway for rational designing of highly active and cost-effective integrated photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE—Oligodendrogenesis is essential for white matter repair after stroke. Although agonists of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptors γ confer neuroprotection in models of ...cerebral ischemia, it is not known whether this effect extends to white matter protection. This study tested the hypothesis that the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptors γ agonist rosiglitazone enhances oligodendrogenesis and improves long-term white matter integrity after ischemia/reperfusion.
METHODS—Male adult C57/BL6 mice (25–30 g) were subjected to 60-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. Rosiglitazone (3 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally once daily for 14 days beginning 2 hours after reperfusion. Sensorimotor and cognitive functions were evaluated ≤21 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Immunostaining was used to assess infarct volume, myelin loss, and microglial activation. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected for measurements of proliferating NG2 oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and newly generated adenomatous polyposis coli oligodendrocytes. Mixed glial cultures were used to confirm the effect of rosiglitazone on oligodendrocyte differentiation and microglial polarization.
RESULTS—Rosiglitazone significantly reduced brain tissue loss, ameliorated white matter injury, and improved sensorimotor and cognitive functions for at least 21 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Rosiglitazone enhanced OPC proliferation and increased the numbers of newly generated mature oligodendrocytes after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Rosiglitazone treatment also reduced the numbers of Iba1/CD16 M1 microglia and increased the numbers of Iba1/CD206 M2 microglia after stroke. Glial culture experiments confirmed that rosiglitazone promoted oligodendrocyte differentiation, perhaps by promoting microglial M2 polarization.
CONCLUSIONS—Rosiglitazone treatment improves long-term white matter integrity after cerebral ischemia, at least, in part, by promoting oligodendrogenesis and facilitating microglial polarization toward the beneficial M2 phenotype.
The subterranean blind mole rat, Spalax, experiences acute hypoxia-reoxygenation cycles in its natural subterranean habitat. At the cellular level, these conditions are known to promote genomic ...instability, which underlies both cancer and aging. However, Spalax is a long-lived animal and is resistant to both spontaneous and induced cancers. To study this apparent paradox we utilized a computational procedure that allows detecting differences in transcript abundance between Spalax and the closely related above-ground Rattus norvegicus in individuals of different ages. Functional enrichment analysis showed that Spalax whole brain tissues maintain significantly higher normoxic mRNA levels of genes associated with DNA damage repair and DNA metabolism, yet keep significantly lower mRNA levels of genes involved in bioenergetics. Many of the genes that showed higher transcript abundance in Spalax are involved in DNA repair and metabolic pathways that, in other species, were shown to be downregulated under hypoxia, yet are required for overcoming replication- and oxidative-stress during the subsequent reoxygenation. We suggest that these differentially expressed genes may prevent the accumulation of DNA damage in mitotic and post-mitotic cells and defective resumption of replication in mitotic cells, thus maintaining genome integrity as an adaptation to acute hypoxia-reoxygenation cycles.
An excess of fecal bile acids (BAs) is thought to be one of the mechanisms for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). However, the factors causing excessive BA excretion remain ...incompletely studied. Given the importance of gut microbiota in BA metabolism, we hypothesized that gut dysbiosis might contribute to excessive BA excretion in IBS-D. By performing BA-related metabolic and metagenomic analyses in 290 IBS-D patients and 89 healthy volunteers, we found that 24.5% of IBS-D patients exhibited excessive excretion of total BAs and alteration of BA-transforming bacteria in feces. Notably, the increase in Clostridia bacteria (e.g., C. scindens) was positively associated with the levels of fecal BAs and serum 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4), but negatively correlated with serum fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) concentration. Furthermore, colonization with Clostridia-rich IBS-D fecal microbiota or C. scindens individually enhanced serum C4 and hepatic conjugated BAs but reduced ileal FGF19 expression in mice. Inhibition of Clostridium species with vancomycin yielded opposite results. Clostridia-derived BAs suppressed the intestinal FGF19 expression in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the Clostridia-rich microbiota contributes to excessive BA excretion in IBS-D patients, which provides a mechanistic hypothesis with testable clinical implications.
The naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a strictly subterranean, extraordinarily long-lived eusocial mammal. Although it is the size of a mouse, its maximum lifespan exceeds 30 years, making ...this animal the longest-living rodent. Naked mole rats show negligible senescence, no age-related increase in mortality, and high fecundity until death. In addition to delayed ageing, they are resistant to both spontaneous cancer and experimentally induced tumorigenesis. Naked mole rats pose a challenge to the theories that link ageing, cancer and redox homeostasis. Although characterized by significant oxidative stress, the naked mole rat proteome does not show age-related susceptibility to oxidative damage or increased ubiquitination. Naked mole rats naturally reside in large colonies with a single breeding female, the 'queen', who suppresses the sexual maturity of her subordinates. They also live in full darkness, at low oxygen and high carbon dioxide concentrations, and are unable to sustain thermogenesis nor feel certain types of pain. Here we report the sequencing and analysis of the naked mole rat genome, which reveals unique genome features and molecular adaptations consistent with cancer resistance, poikilothermy, hairlessness and insensitivity to low oxygen, and altered visual function, circadian rythms and taste sensing. This information provides insights into the naked mole rat's exceptional longevity and ability to live in hostile conditions, in the dark and at low oxygen. The extreme traits of the naked mole rat, together with the reported genome and transcriptome information, offer opportunities for understanding ageing and advancing other areas of biological and biomedical research.
As an important food crop, summer maize is widely planted all over the world. Monitoring its growth and output is of great significance for world food security. With the trend of global warming and ...deterioration, the frequency of high temperature and heat damage affecting summer corn has been increasing in the past ten years. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for monitoring the high temperature and heat damage of summer maize. At present, there are nearly a hundred indices or methods for research on high temperature and heat damage. However, research based on the vegetation index cannot fully describe the damage caused by high-temperature thermal damage, and there is an obvious asynchrony effect. Research based on hyperspectral remote sensing has many inconveniences in data acquisition and complex physical model construction. Therefore, this study uses remote sensing data, including MODIS surface reflection data, MODIS land surface temperature products, as well as ground observation data and statistical data, combined with multiple remote sensing indices and land surface temperature, to construct a remote sensing index, LSHDI (land surface heat damage index). The LSHDI first searches for a location with the worst vegetation growth conditions in the three-dimensional feature space based on the LST (land surface temperature), the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and the land surface water index (LSWI). Then, it calculates the distance between each point and this location to measure the degree of vegetation affected by high temperature and heat damage. Finally, because there is no reliable disaster verification dataset that has been published at present, this study uses soil moisture as a reference to explain the performance and stability of the LSHDI. The results showed that their coefficient of determination was above 0.5 and reached a significance level of 0.01. The LSHDI can well-reflect the high temperature and heat damage of land surface vegetation and can provide important data support and references for agricultural management departments.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often accompanied with colon mucosal barrier damage and gut microbiota disturbance, which strongly associate with up-regulated inflammation and kidney ...tubulointerstitial fibrosis. However, few interventions could protect the damaged barrier effectively.
Rheum palmatum
L or rhubarb is a common herbal medicine which is widely used to protect the colon mucosal barrier. In previous studies, we found that rhubarb intervention may reduce renal inflammation and tubulointerstitial fibrosis,
via
gut microbiota modification. However, whether intestinal barrier function could be improved by rhubarb intervention and the relationship with intestinal flora are still unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effects of rhubarb enema on intestinal barrier, and further analyzed the relationship with gut microbiota in 5/6 nephrectomy rats. Results indicated that rhubarb enema improved the intestinal barrier, regulated gut microbiota dysbiosis, suppressed systemic inflammation, and alleviated renal fibrosis. More specifically, rhubarb enema treatment inhibited the overgrowth of conditional pathogenic gut bacteria, including
Akkermansia
,
Methanosphaera
, and
Clostridiaceae
in CKD. The modification of gut microbiota with rhubarb intervention displayed significant correlation to intestinal barrier markers, TLR4–MyD88–NF-κB inflammatory response, and systemic inflammation. These results revealed that rhubarb enema could restore intestinal barrier by modifying several functional enteric bacteria, which may further explain the renal protection mechanism of the rhubarb enema.
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