•AI promotes the sustainability development in higher education.•A soft-computing technique extracts key factors from large amounts of data.•DEMATEL analysis accounts for dependence and feedback ...among factors.•A framework of AI-enabled Higher Education was proposed.•“Intelligent instructional systems” is the most important criterion.
The application of AI in higher education has greatly increased globally in the dynamic digital age. The adoption of developmentally appropriate practices using AI-enabled techniques for facilitating the performance of teaching and learning in the higher education domain is thus a necessary task, especially in the COVID 19 pandemic era. The development and implementation of such techniques involve many factors and are related to the classical multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) issue; however, these factors surrounding supervisors will confuse them and may result in misjudgment. To clarify the relevant issues and illustrate the cause-and-effect relationships among factors, a hybrid soft-computing technique (i.e., the fuzzy rough set theory (FRST) with ant colony optimization (ACO)) and a DEMATEL approach was proposed in this study, which can help decision makers capture the best model necessary for achieving aspiration-level in a higher education management strategy. In the results submitted, the improvement priority for dimensions is based on the measurement of the influences, running in order of tutors for learners (A), skills and competences (B), interaction data to support learning (C), and universal access to global classrooms (D), and which can serve as a reference for the plan of AI-enabled teaching/learning for higher education.
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) serves as a strong prognostic indicator for patients suffering from various diseases. Neutrophil activation promotes the recruitment of a number of different cell ...types that are involved in acute and chronic inflammation and are associated with cancer treatment outcome. Measurement of NLR, an established inflammation marker, is cost-effective, and it is likely that NLR can be used to predict the development of metabolic syndrome (MS) at an early stage. MS scores range from 1 to 5, and an elevated MS score indicates a greater risk for MS. Monitoring NLR can prevent the risk of MS.A total of 34,013 subjects were enrolled in this study. The subjects (score 0-5) within the 6 groups were classified according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria, and all anthropometrics, laboratory biomarkers, and hematological measurements were recorded. For the 6 groups, statistical analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify the development of MS.Analysis of the ROC curve indicated that NLR served as a good predictor for MS. An MS score of 1 to 2 yielded an acceptable discrimination rate, and these rates were even higher for MS scores of 3 to 5 (P < .001), where the prevalence of MS was 30.8%.NLR can be used as a prognostic marker for several diseases, including those associated with MS.
Efforts from diverse disciplines, including evolutionary studies and biomechanical experiments, have yielded new insights into the genetic, signaling, and mechanical control of tooth formation and ...functions. Evidence from fossils and non‐model organisms has revealed that a common set of genes underlie tooth‐forming potential of epithelia, and changes in signaling environments subsequently result in specialized dentitions, maintenance of dental stem cells, and other phenotypic adaptations. In addition to chemical signaling, tissue forces generated through epithelial contraction, differential growth, and skeletal constraints act in parallel to shape the tooth throughout development. Here recent advances in understanding dental development from these studies are reviewed and important gaps that can be filled through continued application of evolutionary and biomechanical approaches are discussed.
Research into mechanical forces and evolutionary processes reveal the common genes, cell–cell interactions, and other tissue forces that contribute to the maintenance, proliferation, and differentiation of dental stem and progenitor cells to generate the diversity of teeth found across the vertebrate tree of life.
Two broad classes of models have been proposed to explain the patterning of the proximal-distal axis of the vertebrate limb (from the shoulder to the digit tips). Differentiating between them, we ...demonstrate that early limb mesenchyme in the chick is initially maintained in a state capable of generating all limb segments through exposure to a combination of proximal and distal signals. As the limb bud grows, the proximal limb is established through continued exposure to flank-derived signal(s), whereas the developmental program determining the medial and distal segments is initiated in domains that grow beyond proximal influence. In addition, the system we have developed, combining in vitro and in vivo culture, opens the door to a new level of analysis of patterning mechanisms in the limb.
CASTs use both CRISPR-associated proteins and Tn7-family transposons for RNA-guided vertical and horizontal transmission. CASTs encode minimal CRISPR arrays but can’t acquire new spacers. Here, we ...report that CASTs can co-opt defense-associated CRISPR arrays for horizontal transmission. A bioinformatic analysis shows that CASTs co-occur with defense-associated CRISPR systems, with the highest prevalence for type I-B and type V CAST sub-types. Using an E. coli quantitative transposition assay and in vitro reconstitution, we show that CASTs can use CRISPR RNAs from these defense systems. A high-resolution structure of the type I-F CAST-Cascade in complex with a type III-B CRISPR RNA reveals that Cas6 recognizes direct repeats via sequence-independent π − π interactions. In addition to using heterologous CRISPR arrays, type V CASTs can also transpose via an unguided mechanism, even when the S15 co-factor is over-expressed. Over-expressing S15 and the trans-activating CRISPR RNA or a single guide RNA reduces, but does not abrogate, off-target integration for type V CASTs. Our findings suggest that some CASTs may exploit defense-associated CRISPR arrays and that this fact must be considered when porting CASTs to heterologous bacterial hosts. More broadly, this work will guide further efforts to engineer the activity and specificity of CASTs for gene editing applications.Here, the authors show that CRISPR-associated transposons can co-opt other CRISPR arrays found in the same cell. Such interactions must be considered when porting these systems into new hosts.
ObjectivesTo assess whether patients from minority ethnic groups have different perceptions about the quality-of-life outcomes that matter most to them.DesignCross-sectional observational ...study.SettingHigh volume eye centres serving the most ethnically diverse region in the UK, recruiting from July 2021 to February 2022.Participants511 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and the predisease state of ocular hypertension.Main outcome measuresThe main outcome was participants’ self-reported priorities for health outcomes.ResultsParticipants fell into one of four clusters with differing priorities for health outcomes, namely: (1) vision, (2) drop freedom, (3) intraocular pressure and (4) one-time treatment. Ethnicity was the strongest determinant of cluster membership after adjusting for potential confounders. Compared with white patients prioritising vision alone, the OR for black/black British patients was 7.31 (95% CI 3.43 to 15.57, p<0.001) for prioritising drop freedom; 5.95 (2.91 to 12.16, p<0.001) for intraocular pressure; and 2.99 (1.44 to 6.18, p=0.003) for one-time treatment. For Asian/Asian British patients, the OR was 3.17 (1.12 to 8.96, p=0.030) for prioritising intraocular pressure as highly as vision. Other ethnic minority groups also had higher ORs for prioritising health outcomes other than vision alone: 4.50 (1.03 to 19.63, p=0.045) for drop freedom and 5.37 (1.47 to 19.60, p=0.011) for intraocular pressure.ConclusionsEthnicity is strongly associated with differing perceptions about the health outcomes that matter. An individualised and ethnically inclusive approach is needed when selecting and evaluating treatments in clinical and research settings.
Creatine kinase (CK) is a pivotal regulatory enzyme in energy metabolism linked to both blood pressure and cardio-metabolic components. However, data is lacking in a large population of asymptomatic ...Asians.
Cardio-metabolic assessment including anthropometric measures and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated by abdominal echo in 4,562 consecutive subjects who underwent an annual health survey. Serum CK levels were related to blood pressure components systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure (PP), anthropometric measures, and excessive adiposity in liver as indicated by NAFLD. Circulating CK levels ranged from 4 to 1842 IU/L (mean SE: 108.7 1.1 IU/L) in the study population which consisted of 2522 males (mean age: 48.7 ± 11.2) and 2040 females (mean age: 49.4±11.5). In general, male subjects presented with higher circulating CK levels than females (mean ± SE: 127.3 ± 1.5 vs. 85.5 ± 1.3 IU/L, respectively, p < .001). Gender-differences in circulating CK levels were also observed with increasing age, which showed a more pronounced positive relationship with age in female subjects (gender interaction: p < .05). Furthermore, an elevated circulating CK level was independently associated with higher blood pressure, waist circumference and fat mass (FM), greater body mass index (BMI), increased lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and presence of NAFLD in multivariate analysis (all p < .05), with CK elevation more pronounced with greater BMI and FM in males compared with females (sex interaction: p < .05).
In a large asymptomatic Asian population, circulating CK levels were increased with more advanced age, higher blood pressure, and greater body mass with gender differences. Our findings may be useful in interpreting elevated CK from subjects free of ongoing myocardial damage.
Cost-effective serology tests may increase the predictive accuracy of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. Reportedly, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is associated with oxidative stress and ...carcinogenesis and has been found to be elevated in the serum of cancer patients and colorectal adenoma tissue. We aimed to investigate the association between serum GGT levels and colorectal adenoma.
This single-center, health examination-based cohort enrolled 2475 subjects from 2006 to 2015. Baseline characteristics, laboratory data, bidirectional gastrointestinal endoscopy, and transabdominal ultrasonography were used to evaluate the severity of fatty liver.
We found an elevated median GGT level in subjects with tubular adenoma compared with those without (23 IU/L and 20 IU/L, p<0.001). A GGT cutoff of ≥20 IU/L reached a maximal Youden index in receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses. Subsequent regression analyses showed an odds ratio of 1.46 (95% CI 1.17-1.82, p<0.001) for age, body mass index, diabetes diagnosis, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and positive Helicobacter pylori urease test, all being associated with an increased incidence of colon adenoma. Subgroup analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.15-1.68, p<0.001) is only significant and highest in patients with a negative or mild fatty liver and an ALT level of ≤40 IU/L.
The results suggested a positive correlation of GGT with colon adenoma incidence and a predictive value with a cutoff point of >20 IU/L, which is within the normal range. The effect may be most prominent for those without steatohepatitis.
Proteome analysis of serum from type 2 diabetics with complications may lead to the discovery of diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. To circumvent the principal barrier of serum proteomics, our ...investigation aimed to evaluate whether a study of post-translational modification enriched serum proteins could be valuable for the discovery of biomarkers or metabolic pathways related to type 2 diabetes pathogenesis. Type 2 diabetes was induced from high-fat diet fed Sprague Dawley rats with streptozotocin injection. Once diabetic status was confirmed, serum samples from either fasted healthy or diabetic rats were pooled and profiled by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis or comparative 2D electrophoresis after protein enrichments using immobilized metal ion, concanavalin A, and lentil affinity chromatography, respectively. Differential expressed proteins were identified and the associated networks were established by an Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. As a result, induced rats became severe diabetic and accompanied by hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, and glomerular hypertrophy. There were 3 total, 14 phosphorylated and 23 glycosylated protein targets differentially expressed. Proteins could be linked to HNF4A, HNF1A, and NFκB transcriptional factors and antigen presentation, humoral immune response, and inflammatory response pathways. Predicted organ toxicity in kidney, heart, and liver matched with our histopathological results. In conclusion, post-translational modification based serum protein enrichment could be a valuable approach to enhance the resolution of serum proteomics without depleting potentially valuable abundant proteins. Our results also indicated the potential association of the hepatic secretome and hepatocyte nuclear factors in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and its complications.
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