PurposeThis research aims to provide an updated meta-analysis of cross-cultural training effectiveness through quantitatively reviewing the links between cross-cultural training and three outcomes: ...adjustment, cultural intelligence and job performance.Design/methodology/approachDrawing from 37 independent samples from 1991 through August 2021 involving a total of 7,040 trainees, the author adopt random-effects meta-analyses method to assess the relationships between cross-cultural training and three outcomes and examine potential moderators (i.e. training phase, training method and rating source) that influence these relationships.FindingsThe meta-analytical results mainly support our hypotheses. Cross-cultural training -adjustment exhibits a medium and significant positive effect, whereas cross-cultural training is positive significantly related to job performance and cultural intelligence of small effect sizes. Training method and data source significantly moderate the cross-cultural training's impact on cultural intelligence and performance correspondingly.Originality/valueThis study considers longitudinal statistics for measuring cross-cultural training effectiveness, breaking down the inadequacy of cross-sectional measurement and covers sub-dimensions of cross-cultural training outcomes to provide more comprehensive and advanced evidence of cross-cultural training effectiveness for the latest 30 years.
This is a study of the Confucian ideal of harmony and harmonization (he 和). First, through an investigation of the early development of he in ancient China, the meaning of this concept is explored. ...Second, a philosophical analysis of he and a discussion of the relation between harmony, sameness, and strife are offered. Also offered are reasons why this notion is so important to Confucian philosophy. Finally, on the basis of value pluralism, a case is made for the Confucian approach of he to the politics of today's world culture.
Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer responsible for 80% of mortality, and the overall median survival in patients with metastatic melanoma is only 6–9 months. Combination treatment ...through the simultaneous administration of dual drugs in a single nanocarrier has been demonstrated to be elegant and effective in combatting cancer. Herein, we employ a combination therapy based on dacarbazine (DBZ), FDA approved drug for melanoma and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), promising anticancer agents loaded on lipid nanoformulations (RD-LNF) as a new treatment strategy for malignant melanoma. We have successfully encapsulated both the drugs in lipid nanoformulations and showed a controlled release of payload over time. We demonstrated that the simultaneous delivery of DBZ and ATRA could effectively reduce cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. The combinational nanoparticles significantly reduced the colony formation ability of B16F10 melanoma cells. Flow cytometer analysis showed that RD-LNF induced a greater proportion of apoptosis cells with significant inhibition of cell cycle progression and cell migration. These results suggest the promising potential of RD-LNF in the treatment of malignant melanoma with high efficacy.
In the present work, nickel hydroxide modified delaminated-Ti3C2 sheets (Ni(OH)2/d-Ti3C2) were synthetized by the hydrothermal method in order to overcome the capacity degradation caused by the ...terminal functional groups of Ti3C2-MXenes. Due to synergetic effects, the obtained Ni(OH)2/d-Ti3C2 displayed a capacity of 732.6 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, ∼6.0 times higher than that of d-Ti3C2 (∼121.3 mA h g−1), and ∼6.2 times higher than that of Ni(OH)2 (∼117.6 mA h g−1). Moreover, a higher reversible capacity of 372.0 mA h g−1 after 1000 cycles without apparent capacity decay at 1 A g−1 was obtained. This enhanced performance can be caused by the higher lithium ion diffusion coefficient in Ni(OH)2/d-Ti3C2 (2.5 × 10−14 cm2 s−1), ∼284.1 times higher than that of Ni(OH)2 (8.8 × 10−17 cm2 s−1) and ∼7.1 times higher than that of d-Ti3C2 (3.5 × 10−15 cm2 s−1). DFT calculations further confirmed that the Ni(OH)2/d-Ti3C2 can be a good candidate for the anode materials of lithium ion batteries.
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•Ni(OH)2/d-Ti3C2 composite was synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method.•The well-wrapped Ni(OH)2 was grown on the d-Ti3C2 MXene flakes.•This surface engineering improved capacity and cycle performance of d-Ti3C2 MXene.
Previous studies have demonstrated that music has a positive effect on individuals during exercise and sports. We speculate that one of the mechanisms for this positive effect may be that music ...reduces the consumption of self-regulation strength. The primary objective of this study was to use a self-regulation strength model to explain the impact of music on individuals during aerobic exercises. Specifically, we examined the effects of synchronous music on college students' depletion of self-regulation during aerobic exercises. The participants underwent a pre-test in which they had to maintain 50% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) isometric grip and do exercise planning tasks. For subsequent power bicycle riding (aerobic exercise), the participants were divided into a music group and a control group. The music group performed aerobic exercises with synchronous music, while the control group performed aerobic exercises without music. After aerobic exercise, the participants underwent a post-test for isometric grip and exercise planning tasks. The results showed that the music group planned to reduce their efforts less for an upcoming exercise period (p < 0.01, d = 0.81), and their wrist flexor muscle group generated less electromyographic activation during an isometric grip task that maintained 50% MVC (p < 0.05, d = 0.80) than the control group. However, the two groups showed no difference in the duration of 50% MVC. This shows that: (a) for the same duration, participants in the music group required a lower degree of muscle activation than the control group, suggesting that music reduced the consumption of self-regulation strength in aerobic exercise; and (b) music decreased participants' planned exertion declined, also suggesting that music reduced the consumption of self-regulation strength in aerobic exercise.
Breast carcinoma (BC) ranks as a predominant malignancy and constitutes the second principal cause of mortality among women globally. Epirubicin stands as the drug of choice for BC therapeutics. ...Nevertheless, the emergence of chemoresistance has significantly curtailed its therapeutic efficacy. The resistance mechanisms to Epirubicin remain not entirely elucidated, yet they are conjectured to stem from diminished tumor vascular perfusion and resultant hypoxia consequent to Epirubicin administration. In our investigation, we meticulously scrutinized the Gene Expression Omnibus database for EPDR1, a gene implicated in hypoxia and Epirubicin resistance in BC. Subsequently, we delineated the impact of EPDR1 on cellular proliferation, motility, invasive capabilities, and interstitial-related proteins in BC cells, employing methodologies such as the CCK-8 assay, Transwell assay, and western blot analysis. Our research further unveiled that hypoxia-induced miR-181a-5p orchestrates the regulation of BC cell duplication, migration, invasion, and interstitial-related protein expression via modulation of EPDR1. In addition, we identified TRPC1, a gene associated with EPDR1 expression in BC, and substantiated that EPDR1 influences BC cellular dynamics through TRPC1-mediated modulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling cascade. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of EPDR1 in the development of BC. EPDR1 was found to be expressed at subdued levels in BC tissues, Epirubicin-resistant BC cells, and hypoxic BC cells. The overexpression of EPDR1 curtailed BC cell proliferation, motility, invasiveness, and the expression of interstitial-related proteins. At a mechanistic level, the overexpression of hypoxia-induced miR-181a-5p was observed to inhibit the EPDR1/TRPC1 axis, thereby activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and diminishing the sensitivity to Epirubicin in BC cells. In summation, our study demonstrates that the augmentation of hypoxia-induced miR-181a-5p diminishes Epirubicin sensitivity in BC cells by attenuating EPDR1/TRPC1 expression, thereby invigorating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This exposition offers a theoretical foundation for the application of Epirubicin in BC therapy, marking a significant contribution to the existing body of oncological literature.
Oceanic LiDAR (hereafter referred to as O-LiDAR) is an important remote sensing device for measuring the near-coastal water depth and for studying the optical properties of water bodies. With the ...commercialization of LiDAR, the theoretical research on the underwater transmission characteristics of LiDAR has been intensified worldwide. Primary research interests include the simulation and modeling of LiDAR underwater echo signals and the inversion of optical parameters using LiDAR water echo signals. This article provides an overview of the principle of LiDAR echo signal formation, and comprehensively summarizes the LiDAR echo signal simulation modeling methods and the corresponding factors that affect modeling accuracy by focusing on the characteristics of different methods. We found that the current simulation methods of LiDAR underwater transmission echo signals primarily include an analytical method based on the radiation transfer equation and a statistical method based on the Monte Carlo (MC) model. The radiation transport equation needs to be appropriately simplified using the analytical method, usually using the quasi-single-small-angle approximation principle. The analytical method has high calculation efficiency but its accuracy is dependent to the quasi-single small-angle approximation. The statistical method can analyze the influence of various factors on echo signals by controlling the variables, but it has poor calculation efficiency. Finally, the semianalytical MC model was used to quantitatively analyze the three main factors (LiDAR system parameters, water body optical parameters, and environmental parameters) affecting underwater LiDAR transmission characteristics, and summarizes the mechanism and results of different factors.
Background Exosomes as the main therapeutic vectors of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment and its mechanism remain unexplored. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha ...stimulated gene 6 (TSG-6) is a glycoprotein secreted by MSC with the capacities of tissue repair and immune regulation. This study aimed to explore whether TSG-6 is a potential molecular target of exosomes derived from MSCs (MSCs-Exo) exerting its therapeutic effect against colon inflammation and repairing mucosal tissue. Methods Two separate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced IBD mouse models were intraperitoneally administered MSCs-Exo extracted from human umbilical cord MSC (hUC-MSC) culture supernatant. Effects of MSCs-Exo on intestinal inflammation, colon barrier function, and proportion of T cells were investigated. We explored the effects of MSCs-Exo on the intestinal barrier and immune response with TSG-6 knockdown. Moreover, recombinant human TSG-6 (rhTSG-6) was administered exogenously and colon inflammation severity in mice was evaluated. Results Intraperitoneal injection of MSCs-Exo significantly ameliorated IBD symptoms and reduced mortality rate. The protective effect of MSCs-Exo on intestinal barrier was demonstrated evidenced by the loss of goblet cells and intestinal mucosa permeability, thereby improving the destruction of tight junctions (TJ) structures and microvilli, as well as increasing the expression of TJ proteins. Microarray analysis revealed that MSCs-Exo administration downregulated the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokine in colon tissue. MSCs-Exo also modulated the response of Th2 and Th17 cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). Reversely, knockdown of TSG-6 abrogated the therapeutic effect of MSCs-Exo on mucosal barrier maintenance and immune regulation, whereas rhTSG-6 administration showed similar efficacy to that of MSCs-Exo. Conclusions Our findings suggested that MSCs-Exo protected against IBD through restoring mucosal barrier repair and intestinal immune homeostasis via TSG-6 in mice. Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease, Mesenchymal stem cells, Exosome, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated gene 6, Intestinal barrier