In the MOOCs context, learners experience information overload. Thus, it is necessary to improve personalized recommendation algorithms for learners. The current recommendation algorithm focuses ...mainly on the learners’ course ratings. However, the choice of courses is not only based on the learners’ interests and preferences. It is also affected by learners’ knowledge domains and learning capabilities, all of which change dynamically over time. Therefore, this study proposes a personalized hybrid recommendation algorithm combining clustering with collaborative filtering. First, data on learners’ course rating preferences, course attribute preferences, and multidimensional capabilities that match course traits are used based on multidimensional item response theory. Second, considering that learners’ preferences and multidimensional capabilities change dynamically over time, the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve is introduced by integrating memory weights to improve the accuracy and interpretation of the proposed recommendation algorithm for MOOCs. Finally, the performance of the proposed recommendation algorithm is investigated using data from Coursera, an internationally renowned MOOCs platform. The experimental results show that the proposed recommendation algorithm is superior to the baseline algorithms. Accordingly, relevant suggestions are proposed for the development of MOOCs.
•The application of electrochemistry shortened the HRT from 72 h to 48 h.•The fraction of COD converted to sludge was reduced by 5.0–8.2% with electrochemistry.•Particulate and colloid COD was ...reduced by 41.9–60.4% and fouling rate was retarded.•The application of electrochemistry signally improved the detoxification by 7.8–47.7%•Higher environmental benefits and less unit capital and operating costs were achieved.
Optimization in performance and membrane fouling of an electrochemical anaerobic membrane bioreactor (R1) for treating pesticide wastewater was investigated and compared with a conventional anaerobic membrane bioreactor (R2). The maximum COD removal efficiency of R2 was 80.1%, 80.0%, 67.4%, 61.1% with HRT of 96, 72, 48 and 24 h, which of R1 was enhanced to 84.7%, 84.3%, 82.0% and 66.3%. These results demonstrated that the optimum HRT of R1 was shortened to 48 h, which of R2 required 72 h. R1 reduced the contents of particulate and colloidal COD, and the fraction of COD converted to sludge was 5.0–8.2% lower than that of R2. The fouling rate was 0.99–1.44 kPa/d and reduced by 31.0%-38.5% compared with R2. Detoxification was enhanced by 7.8–47.7% with the assistance of bio-electrochemistry. Ultimately, ensuring similar performance, R1 achieved a 65.6% improvement in environmental benefit, a 26.3% and 38.9% reduction in unit capital and operating costs.
Emulsion systems are widely applied in agriculture, food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. Ultrasound has attracted much attention in emulsion preparation, especially for ...nanoemulsion, due to its advantages of being eco-friendly, cost-effective and energy-efficient. This review provides an overview for readers to the area of ultrasonic emulsification technology. It briefly introduces and summarizes knowledge of ultrasonic emulsification, including emulsion characteristics, acoustic cavitation, emulsification mechanism, ultrasonic devices and applications. The combination of microfluidics and ultrasound is highlighted with huge advantages in controlling cavitation phenomena and emulsification intensification. A novel scale of
dμ
C
0.6
/
μ
D
0.33
−
E
V
is proposed to be able to compare the energy efficiency of emulsion preparation in different devices.
Cell survival or death is one of the key scientific issues of inflammatory response. To regulate cell death during the occurrence and development of periodontitis, various forms of programmed cell ...death, such as pyroptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and apoptosis, have been proposed. It has been found that ferroptosis characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation is involved in cancer, degenerative brain diseases and inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, NCOA4 is considered one of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) contributing to butyrate-induced cell death in the periodontitis. This research aims to analyze the expression of FRGs in periodontitis tissues and to explore the relationship between ferroptosis and periodontitis. Genes associated with periodontitis were retrieved from two Gene Expression Omnibus datasets. Then, we normalized microarray data and removed the batch effect using the R software. We used R to convert the mRNA expression data and collected the expression of FRGs. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), transcription factor (TF) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses were used. In addition, we constructed a receiver operating characteristic curve and obtained relative mRNA expression verified by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Eight and 10 FRGs related to periodontitis were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. GO analysis showed that FRGs were enriched in the regulation of glutathione biosynthetic, glutamate homeostasis, and endoplasmic reticulum-nucleus signaling pathway. The top TFs included CEBPB, JUND, ATF2. Based on the PPI network analysis, FRGs were mainly linked to the negative regulation of IRE1-mediated unfolded protein response, regulation of type IIa hypersensitivity, and regulation of apoptotic cell clearance. The expression levels of NCOA4, SLC1A5 and HSPB1 using PCR were significantly different between normal gingival samples and periodontitis samples. Furthermore, the diagnostic value of FRGs for periodontitis were "Good". We found significant associations between FRGs and periodontitis. The present study not only provides a new possible pathomechanism for the occurrence of periodontitis but also offers a new direction for the diagnosis and treatment of periodontitis.
Summary
The present study screened for polymorphisms in coding and non‐coding regions of the GmGBP1 gene in 278 soybean accessions with variable maturity and growth habit characteristics under ...natural field conditions in three different latitudes in China. The results showed that the promoter region was highly diversified compared with the coding sequence of GmGBP1. Five polymorphisms and four haplotypes were closely related to soybean flowering time and maturity through association and linkage disequilibrium analyses. Varieties with the polymorphisms SNP_‐796G, SNP_‐770G, SNP_‐307T, InDel_‐242normal, SNP_353A, or haplotypes Hap‐3 and Hap‐4 showed earlier flowering time and maturity in different environments. The shorter growth period might be largely due to higher GmGBP1 expression levels in soybean that were caused by the TCT‐motif with SNP_‐796G in the promoter. In contrast, the lower expression level of GmGBP1 in soybean caused by RNAi interference of GmGBP1 resulted in a longer growth period under different day lengths. Furthermore, the gene interference of GmGBP1 also caused a reduction in photoperiod response sensitivity (PRS) before flowering in soybean. RNA‐seq analysis on GmGBP1 underexpression in soybean showed that 94 and 30 predicted genes were significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Of these, the diurnal photoperiod‐specific expression pattern of three significant flowering time genes GmFT2a, GmFT5a, and GmFULc also showed constantly lower mRNA levels in GmGBP1‐i soybean than in wild type, especially under short day conditions. Together, the results showed that GmGBP1 functioned as a positive regulator upstream of GmFT2a and GmFT5a to activate the expression of GmFULc to promote flowering on short days.
Significance Statement
GmGBP1 functions as a positive regulator in the photoperiod control of flowering response by regulating GmFT2a, GmFT5a, and GmFULc expression. Five polymorphisms and four haplotypes were closely related to soybean flowering time and maturity through association and linkage disequilibrium analyses.
Purpose
To investigate the expression of annexin A2 (ANXA2) in ectopic and eutopic endometrium and serum of women with adenomyosis, and their relationships with adenomyosis-associated dysmenorrhea.
...Methods
The expression of ANXA2 was detected by immunohistochemical S-P method in ectopic and eutopic endometrium tissues from 30 patients with adenomyosis who underwent hysterectomy. The correlation between ANXA2 expression and dysmenorrhea degree was evaluated. The endometrium tissues from 15 patients with uterine fibroids which underwent hysterectomy were used as controls. The preoperative serum level of ANXA2 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 30 patients with adenomyosis and 15 patients with hysteromyoma.
Result
The expression of ANXA2 in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of adenomyosis was higher than in normal endometrium (
P
< 0.05), but no significant difference of ANXA2 expression was observed between the eutopic endometrium and the ectopic endometrium (
P
> 0.05). In the ectopic endometrium, but not in the eutopic endometrium, of women with adenomyosis, ANXA2 expression was positively correlated with the severity of dysmenorrhea (
R
= 0.831,
P
= 0.000). The preoperative serum level of ANXA2 was markedly higher in patients with adenomyosis compared with the patients with hysteromyoma (
P
< 0.05).
Conclusion
The increased ANXA2 may contribute to the occurrence and development of adenomyosis, and may play a important role in the dysmenorrhea. The present study may provide a new idea of diagnosis and treatment to adenomyosis-associated dysmenorrhea.
The current study is undertaken to characterize the prevalence, genotypes distribution, antibiotic resistance and genetic diversity of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) collected from ...different stages of a chicken production chain. In total, 579 samples from a broiler farm and 378 samples from the slaughterhouse were collected from a large‐scale rearing and slaughter one‐stop enterprise in Weifang, China, between June and July 2019, of which 30.40% of the samples from farm and 54.50% of samples from slaughterhouse were determined to be positive for C. perfringens, respectively. The contamination of chicken products was relatively serious, with the total positive rate of carcasses at 59.73%; the positive rate of carcass samples was the highest in the evisceration process, which might be the critical point of C. perfringens contamination. A total of 476 isolates of C. perfringens were recovered; and 99.58% of recovered isolates were identified as type A, with the remaining isolates being type G. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that 97.15% of the isolates showed multiple antibiotic resistance and 67.89% of them were resistant to at least five classes of commonly used antibiotics. Multilocus sequence typing results of 91 representative isolates showed that the isolates can be divided into 74 sequences types (STs); 40.66% of the isolates can be included into seven clonal complexes (CCs). Although most of the isolates were classified as type A, considerable genetic diversity was observed, with the Simpson's diversity index of ST up to 0.9902. Some isolates from farm stage and slaughter stage were distributed in the same ST or CC, indicating that chicken products may be contaminated by the same ST or CC of C. perfringens originated from the farm stage. The high contamination rates of chicken products and the widespread multiple antibiotic resistance of isolates indicated potential public health risks, control measures at rearing and slaughtering stage should be considered to reduce this risk.
The family with sequence similarity 20-member C (FAM20C) kinase, a Golgi casein kinase, which is responsible for phosphorylating the majority of the extracellular phosphoproteins within S-x-E/pS ...motifs, and is fundamentally associated with multiple biological processes to maintain cell proliferation, biomineralization, migration, adhesion, and phosphate homeostasis. In dissecting how FAM20C regulates downstream molecules and potential mechanisms, however, there are multiple target molecules of FAM20C, particularly many phenomena remain elusive, such as changes in cell-autonomous behaviors, incompatibility in genotypes and phenotypes, and others.
Here, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq), RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), proteomics, and phosphoproteomics were performed in Fam20c-dificient osteoblasts and to facilitate an integrated analysis and determine the impact of chromatin accessibility, genomic expression, protein alterations, signaling pathway, and post translational modifcations.
By combining ATAC-seq and RNA-seq, we identified TCF4 and Wnt signaling pathway as the key regulators in Fam20c-dificient cells. Further, we showed Calpastatin/Calpain proteolysis system as a novel target axis for FAM20C to regulate cell migration and F-actin cytoskeleton by integrated analysis of proteomics and phosphoproteomics. Furthermore, Calpastatin/Calpain proteolysis system could negatively regulate the Wnt signaling pathway.
These observations implied that Fam20c knockout osteoblasts would cause cell homeostatic imbalance, involving changes in multiple signaling pathways in the conduction system.
Lyophilized platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) was shown to further activate resident platelets in platelet-rich fibrin causing a higher amount of growth factors release. However, it still required further ...experimental studies to resolve the uncontrolled degradation and burst release problem. In this study, the nature crosslinker genipin is introduced to improve the performance of L-PRF scaffold. We used a series of gradient concentration genipin solutions to react with L-PRF. The crosslinking degree, micro morphology, mean pore size, water absorption and mechanical properties of the crosslinked scaffold were evaluated. In order to study the effect of genipin modification on the release kinetics of growth factors from L-PRF, we detected the release of platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor
in vitro
by ELISA. To investigate the biodegradability of the crosslinked L-PRF
in vivo
, the scaffolds were transplanted subcutaneously into backs of rats, and the materials were recovered at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after implantation. The biodegradation, inflammatory reaction and biocompatibility of the scaffolds were examined by histological staining. Finally, the genipin crosslinked/uncrosslinked L- Platelet-rich fibrin scaffolds were implanted with freshly prepared SHED cell sheets into rat critical size calvarial defects and the skull samples were recovered to examine the treatment efficacy of genipin crosslinked L-PRF by histologic and radiographic approaches. Results of this study indicated that genipin can be used to modify L-PRF at room temperature at a very low concentration. Genipin-modified L-PRF shows better biomechanical performance, slower biodegradation, good bioavailable and sustained release of growth factors. The 0.01% w/v and 0.1% w/v genipin crosslinked L-PRF have good porous structure and significantly promote cell proliferation and enhance the expression of key genes in osteogenesis
in vitro
, and work best in promoting bone regeneration
in vivo
.
Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) emerges as a regulator in various diseases, including endometriosis (EM). This study aims to uncover the role of long non-coding RNA BRAF-activated non-protein coding RNA ...(lncRNA BANCR)-mediated competing endogenous RNA mechanism in endometrial stromal cell (ESC) proliferation and invasion in EM by regulating miR-15a-5p/TRIM59. ESCs were isolated from eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues, followed by the determination of Cytokeratin 19 and Vimentin expressions in cells. Then, expressions of lncRNA BANCR, microRNA (miR)-15a-5p, and tripartite motif-containing 59 (TRIM59) in tissues and cells were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction or Western blot assay, and cell proliferation and invasion were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 and transwell assays. After that, the subcellular localization of lncRNA BANCR and binding of miR-15a-5p to lncRNA BANCR or TRIM59 were analyzed. LncRNA BANCR was upregulated in ectopic endometrial tissues and ectopic ESCs (Ect-ESCs). Silencing lncRNA BANCR suppressed Ect-ESC proliferation and invasion. LncRNA BANCR inhibited miR-15a-5p to promote TRIM59 expression. miR-15a-5p downregulation or TRIM59 overexpression both reversed the effects of silencing lncRNA BANCR on Ect-ESC proliferation and invasion. In summary, our findings suggested that lncRNA BANCR facilitated Ect-ESC proliferation and invasion by inhibiting miR-15a-5p and promoting TRIM59.
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