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High-resolution remote sensing imagery, reaching meter or sub-meter levels, provides essential data for extracting and identifying road information. However, rural roads are often narrow, elongated, and have blurred boundaries, with textures that resemble surrounding environments such as construction sites, vegetation, and farmland. These features often lead to incomplete extraction and low extraction accuracy of rural roads. To address these challenges, this study introduces the RC-MSFNet model, based on the U-Net architecture, to enhance rural road extraction performance. The RC-MSFNet model mitigates the vanishing gradient problem in deep networks by incorporating residual neural networks in the downsampling stage. In the upsampling stage, a connectivity attention mechanism is added after dual convolution layers to improve the model's ability to capture road completeness and connectivity. Additionally, the bottleneck section replaces the traditional dual convolution layers with a multi-scale fusion atrous convolution module to capture features at various scales. The study focuses on rural roads in the Xiong'an New Area, China, using high-resolution imagery from China's Gaofen-2 satellite to construct the XARoads rural road dataset. Roads were extracted from the XARoads dataset and DeepGlobe public dataset using the RC-MSFNet model and compared with some models such as U-Net, FCN, SegNet, DeeplabV3+, R-Net, and RC-Net. Experimental results showed that: (1) The proposed method achieved precision (P), intersection over union (IOU), and completeness (COM) scores of 0.8350, 0.6523, and 0.7489, respectively, for rural road extraction in Xiong'an New Area, representing precision improvements of 3.8%, 6.78%, 7.85%, 2.14%, 0.58%, and 2.53% over U-Net, FCN, SegNet, DeeplabV3+, R-Net, and RC-Net. (2) The method excelled at extracting narrow roads and muddy roads with unclear boundaries, with fewer instances of omission or false extraction, demonstrating advantages in complex rural terrain and areas with indistinct road boundaries. Accurate rural road extraction can provide valuable reference data for urban development and planning in the Xiong'an New Area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study represents the first analysis of the bacterial community in chickens affected by swollen head syndrome, utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Samples were obtained from clinical laying chickens and were examined for the presence of Avibacterium paragallinarum (APG) and Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). From the samples, five APG-positive (APG) and APG-negative (N-APG) samples were chosen, along with five specific pathogen-free chickens, for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that APG and ORT were widely detected in the chicken samples with swollen head syndrome (SHS, 9/10), while APG was detected in all five specific pathogen-free (SPF) samples. In contrast, conventional PCR sensitivity was found to be inadequate for diagnosis, with only 35.7% (5/14) and 11.1% (1/9) sensitivity for APG and ORT, respectively, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing data. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was able to quantify the bacteria in the samples, revealing that the relative abundance of APG in the APG group ranged from 2.7 to 81.3%, while the relative abundance of APG in the N-APG group ranged from 0.1 to 21.0%. Notably, a low level of APG was also detected in all 5 SPF samples. The study also identified a significant number of animal and human common bacterial pathogens, including but not limited to Gallibacterium anatis, Riemerella columbina, Enterococcus cecorum, Mycoplasma synoviae, Helicobacter hepaticus, and Staphylococcus lentus. In conclusion, 16S rRNA gene sequencing is a valuable tool for bacterial pathogen diagnosis and the discovery of novel bacterial pathogens, while conventional PCR is not reliable for diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study published in Cell Discovery explores the potential of chimeric antigen receptor macrophages (CAR-M) in targeting cardiac fibrosis. The researchers developed a CAR strategy to direct macrophages to engulf fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-expressing myofibroblasts, which are associated with cardiac fibrosis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that CAR-M cells effectively phagocytosed FAP+ target cells. In a mouse model of hypertensive cardiac injury, adoptive transfer of CAR-M cells reduced cardiac fibrosis and improved heart function. The study suggests that CAR-M cells have therapeutic potential for treating cardiac fibrosis, although further research is needed to optimize the CAR-M strategy and explore other phagocytic receptors. [Extracted from the article]

This study represents the first analysis of the bacterial community in chickens affected by swollen head syndrome, utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Samples were obtained from clinical laying chickens and were examined for the presence of Avibacterium paragallinarum (APG) and Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). From the samples, five APG-positive (APG) and APG-negative (N-APG) samples were chosen, along with five specific pathogen-free chickens, for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that APG and ORT were widely detected in the chicken samples with swollen head syndrome (SHS, 9/10), while APG was detected in all five specific pathogen-free (SPF) samples. In contrast, conventional PCR sensitivity was found to be inadequate for diagnosis, with only 35.7% (5/14) and 11.1% (1/9) sensitivity for APG and ORT, respectively, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing data. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was able to quantify the bacteria in the samples, revealing that the relative abundance of APG in the APG group ranged from 2.7 to 81.3%, while the relative abundance of APG in the N-APG group ranged from 0.1 to 21.0%. Notably, a low level of APG was also detected in all 5 SPF samples. The study also identified a significant number of animal and human common bacterial pathogens, including but not limited to Gallibacterium anatis, Riemerella columbina, Enterococcus cecorum, Mycoplasma synoviae, Helicobacter hepaticus, and Staphylococcus lentus. In conclusion, 16S rRNA gene sequencing is a valuable tool for bacterial pathogen diagnosis and the discovery of novel bacterial pathogens, while conventional PCR is not reliable for diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent control algorithms have been extensively utilized for adaptive controller parameter adjustment. While the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm has several issues: slow convergence speed requiring a large number of iterations, a tendency to get trapped in local optima, and difficulty escaping from them. It is also sensitive to the distribution of the solution space, where uneven distribution can lead to inefficient contraction. On the other hand, the Beetle Antennae Search (BAS) algorithm is robust, precise, and has strong global search capabilities. However, its limitation lies in focusing on a single individual. As the number of iterations increases, the step size decays, causing it to get stuck in local extrema and preventing escape. Although setting a fixed or larger initial step size can avoid this, it results in poor stability. The PSO algorithm, which targets a population, can help the BAS algorithm increase diversity and address its deficiencies. Conversely, the characteristics of the BAS algorithm can aid the PSO algorithm in finding the optimal solution early in the optimization process, accelerating convergence. Therefore, considering the combination of BAS and PSO algorithms can leverage their respective advantages and enhance overall algorithm performance. This paper proposes an improved algorithm, W-K-BSO, which integrates the Beetle Antennae Search strategy into the local search phase of PSO. By leveraging chaotic mapping, the algorithm enhances population diversity and accelerates convergence speed. Additionally, the adoption of linearly decreasing inertia weight enhances algorithm performance, while the coordinated control of the contraction factor and inertia weight regulates global and local optimization performance. Furthermore, the influence of beetle antennae position increments on particles is incorporated, along with the establishment of new velocity update rules. Simulation experiments conducted on nine benchmark functions demonstrate that the W-K-BSO algorithm consistently exhibits strong optimization capabilities. It significantly improves the ability to escape local optima, convergence precision, and algorithm stability across various dimensions, with enhancements ranging from 7 to 9 orders of magnitude compared to the BAS algorithm. Application of the W-K-BSO algorithm to PID optimization for the Pointing and Tracking System (PTS) reduced system stabilization time by 28.5%, confirming the algorithm's superiority and competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in forests can affect soil microbial growth and turnover directly through increasing N availability and indirectly through altering plant‐derived carbon (C) availability for microbes. This impacts microbial residues (i.e., amino sugars), a major component of soil organic carbon (SOC). Previous studies in forests have so far focused on the impact of understory N addition on microbes and microbial residues, but the effect of N deposition through plant canopy, the major pathway of N deposition in nature, has not been explicitly explored. In this study, we investigated whether and how the quantities (25 and 50 kg N ha−1 year−1) and modes (canopy and understory) of N addition affect soil microbial residues in a temperate broadleaf forest under 10‐year N additions. Our results showed that N addition enhanced the concentrations of soil amino sugars and microbial residual C (MRC) but not their relative contributions to SOC, and this effect on amino sugars and MRC was closely related to the quantities and modes of N addition. In the topsoil, high‐N addition significantly increased the concentrations of amino sugars and MRC, regardless of the N addition mode. In the subsoil, only canopy N addition positively affected amino sugars and MRC, implying that the indirect pathway via plants plays a more important role. Neither canopy nor understory N addition significantly affected soil microbial biomass (as represented by phospholipid fatty acids), community composition and activity, suggesting that enhanced microbial residues under N deposition likely stem from increased microbial turnover. These findings indicate that understory N addition may underestimate the impact of N deposition on microbial residues and SOC, highlighting that the processes of canopy N uptake and plant‐derived C availability to microbes should be taken into consideration when predicting the impact of N deposition on the C sequestration in temperate forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its release in November 2022, ChatGPT has become a focal point of discussion among scholars and practitioners. This study investigates the role of ChatGPT in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) writing through a systematic review of the 20 most pertinent articles. Inclusion and exclusion of references were based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Findings suggest that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into education is an evolving process that significantly impacts how EFL students learn to write. This systematic review highlights both the opportunities and challenges associated with adopting ChatGPT for EFL writing. On one hand, ChatGPT offers innovative ways to enhance writing skills, providing instant feedback and diverse writing prompts. On the other hand, challenges such as dependency on AI and the need for critical thinking skills remain. Based on the synthesized literature, recommendations for EFL teaching were proposed, emphasizing a balanced approach to integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into writing curricula and creating a community of practice among teachers and students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a novel convex combination algorithm based on the distributed diffusion strategy, utilizing the least mean square (LMS) approach to enhance the performance of sensor networks. By enabling communication among nodes, the algorithm achieves decentralization and improves the robustness of the network. To address the limitations of slow convergence speed and large static error associated with fixed step size errors, we introduce a convex combination strategy that integrates two filters with variable step sizes. The LMS algorithm with the convex combination variable step size assigns a higher weight to the filter with a larger step size when the error is significant, ensuring rapid convergence. Conversely, the convex combination small step size filter is assigned a higher weight when the error is small, reducing the error in the stable state. The convergence behavior of the proposed algorithm is analyzed through theoretical analysis, and its complexity is compared with that of the distributed diffusion LMS algorithm through extensive experimental simulations. The results demonstrate that the combination of the LMS algorithm with the distributed diffusion strategy offers advantages in challenging external environments, including improved convergence speed and reduced stability error. This study makes significant contributions to the existing research field by introducing a novel convex combination algorithm that addresses the shortcomings of fixed step size errors and expands the range of available algorithms. By leveraging the distributed diffusion strategy, our approach enhances the robustness of sensor networks and achieves improved performance. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for researchers working on decentralized algorithms and highlight the potential of combining the LMS algorithm with the distributed diffusion strategy in challenging environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, advances in the understanding of the controlling factors and physical mechanisms of tropical cyclogenesis (TCG) are summarized from recent (2018-2022) research on TCG, as presented in the Tenth International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (IWTC-10). Observational, theoretical, and numerical modeling studies published in recent years have advanced our knowledge on the influence of large-scale environmental factors on TCG. Furthermore, studies have shown clearly that appropriate convective coupling with tropical equatorial waves enhances the development chances of TCG. More recently, illuminating research has been carried out on analyzing the mechanisms by which oscillations and teleconnections (El Ni˜no Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in particular) modulate TCG globally, in association with changes in the sea surface temperature (SST). In addition to this, recent research has diligently addressed different aspects of TCG. Multiple studies have reported the applicability of unified theories and physical mechanisms of TCG in different ocean basins. Recently, research has been carried out on TCG under different flow pattern regimes, dry air intrusion, importance of marsupial pouch, genesis of Medicanes, wind shear, convection and vertical structure. Furthermore, studies have discussed the possibility of near equatorial TCG provided that there is enough supply of background vertical vorticity and relatively low vertical wind shear. Progress has been made to understand the role of climate change on global and regional TCG. However, there are still significant gaps which need to be addressed in order to better understand TCG prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the long-term survival and treatment-related toxicities of helical tomotherapy (HT) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Methods: One hundred and ninety newly diagnosed non-metastatic NPC patients treated with HT from September 2007 to August 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. The dose at D95 prescribed was 70-74Gy, 60-62.7Gy and 52- 56Gy delivered in 33 fractions to the primary gross tumor volume (pGTVnx) and positive lymph nodes (pGTVnd), the high risk planning target volume (PTV1), and the low risk planning target volume (PTV2), respectively, using simultaneous integrated boost technique. The statistical analyses were performed and late toxicities were evaluated and scored according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 3.0). Results: The median follow-up time was 145 months. The 10-year local relapsefree survival (LRFS), nodal relapse-free survival (NRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS) were 94%, 95%, 86%, and 77.8%; respectively. Fifty (26.3%) patients had treatment-related failures at the last follow-up visit. Distant metastasis, occurred in 25 patients, was the major failure pattern. Multivariate analysis showed that age and T stage were independent predictors of DMFS and OS, Concomitant chemotherapy improved overall survival, but anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy failed. The most common late toxicities were mainly graded as 1 or 2. Conclusions: Helical tomotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost technique offered excellent long-term outcomes for NPC patients, with mild late treatmentrelated toxicities. Age and clinical stage were independent predictors of DMFS and [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is one of the most common inherited cardiomyopathies, characterized by progressive fibrofatty replacement in the myocardium. However, the cellular origin of cardiac adipocytes in ACM remains largely unknown. Unraveling the cellular source of cardiac adipocytes in ACM would elucidate the underlying pathological process and provide a potential target for therapy. Herein, we generated an ACM mouse model by inactivating desmosomal gene desmoplakin in cardiomyocytes; and examined the adipogenic fates of several cell types in the disease model. The results showed that SOX9+, PDGFRa+, and PDGFRb+ mesenchymal cells, but not cardiomyocytes or smooth muscle cells, contribute to the intramyocardial adipocytes in the ACM model. Mechanistically, Bmp4 was highly expressed in the ACM mouse heart and functionally promoted cardiac mesenchymal-to-adipose transition in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nitrogen isotope composition of plants (δ15N) can comprehensively reflect information on climate change and ecosystems' nitrogen cycle. By collecting common herbs and soil samples along the 400 mm isoline of mean annual precipitation (MAP) in the agro-pastoral zone of North China (APZNC) and measuring their δ15N values, the statistical characteristics of foliar δ15N of herbs and the responses of foliar δ15N to the MAP and mean annual temperature (MAT) were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) the δ15N values of all herbs investigated varied from −5.5% to 15.25%. Among them, the δ15N value range of C3 herbs (−5.5~15.00%) was wider than that of C4 herbs (−2.17~15.25%), but the average value (3.27%) of C3 herbs was significantly lower than that of C4 herbaceous plants (5.55%). This difference provides an important method for identifying plants of different photosynthetic types by nitrogen isotope technology. (2) Along the transect from northeast to southwest, the δ15N of both C3 and C4 herbs decreased with the increase in the MAP, but not significantly for C3 herbs. The inverse relationship between the nitrogen isotopic signatures of herbs and MAP is consistent with previous studies. However, the MAP in the APZNC is found to only explain a small amount of the observed variance in the δ15N herbs (C3 herbs: 10.40%; C4 herbs: 25.03%). (3) A strong negative relationship was found between δ15N of herbs and MAT across the transect (C3 herbs: −0.368%/°C; C4 herbs: −0.381%/°C), which was contrary to the global pattern and some regional patterns. There was no significant difference in the δ15N responses of two different photosynthetic herbs to temperature, but the effect of temperature on the variances of δ15N of C3 and C4 herbs was significantly greater than that of precipitation. This suggests that temperature is a key factor affecting foliar δ15N of herbs in this transect. The above findings may be of value to global change researchers studying the processes of the nitrogen cycle and gaining an insight into climate dynamics of the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of whether grammar learning and correction is effective for second language writing development depends on students' needs and tendency to study grammar. While the extent of the influence of grammar learning, grammar correction, and learner beliefs on second language writing for English as a second language settings and learners has been heavily debated, little of the research has considered the backgrounds and beliefs of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. To explore factors that have influenced EFL students' writing, the current study investigated beliefs regarding grammar learning and correction of 306 EFL students studying at universities of science and technology. An exploratory factor analysis was performed on questionnaire data gathered from the Taiwanese EFL student writers. The analysis uncovered four significant factors including (1) emphasis on the connection between grammar learning and writing, (2) positive attitude towards analyses of grammar rules, (3) positive attitude towards written correction, and (4) negative attitude towards oral correction. Qualitative data gathered through ten open-ended questions further indicated that EFL student writers welcomed teachers' written correction of grammar errors especially when grammar correction was received for writing produced during writing tasks tailored to students' future work-related needs. Pedagogical implications and future materials development for university of science and technology EFL student writers were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the types of written corrective feedback given by second language writing teachers on Taiwanese secondary school students' collocation errors. First, the written corrective feedback that teachers provided on learners' word choice errors was examined to uncover the types of feedback provided. Then, analysis focused on verb-noun collocations to draw attention to how students had been receiving different types of written corrective feedback from teachers on a single collocation error type. Results showed that some sentences tagged as including word choice errors only contained rulebased errors. Furthermore, for verb-noun collocation errors, teachers chose to provide indirect and direct feedback almost equally at the expense of metalinguistic feedback. Based on the results, we suggested options for second language writing teachers when providing feedback on word choice errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide-area measurement, protection and control systems link the cyber power system with the physical power system to realize a cyber-physical power system (CPPS). This paper proposes a reliability modeling and assessment method for the wide-area protection system (WAPS). The proposed WAPS model takes into account the decision accuracy of protection algorithms with limited available data at the control center, and combines it with the tripping reliability of protection devices in corresponding substations to form the operation accuracy of WAPS. In particular, the directional comparison algorithm used in decision-making is functionally divided into three modules, namely the initiation module, the fault area positioning module, and the faulted element recognition module. The proposed reliability models are established based on the Permutation and Combination method under the assumption that the data acceptance rate of the control center is d. The sequential Monte-Carlo simulation is used to solve the proposed reliability indices. Finally, the WAPS reliability assessment is presented for the IEEE 14-bus system and the key influencing factors are identified and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped Y2O3 nanoparticles have been prepared by using a coprecipitation method followed by a post-thermal-treatment, in which a surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) plays an important role in the size-controlling and upconversion luminescence tuning. The green (²H11/2, 4S3/2 → 4I15/2) and red emission (4F9/2 → 4I15/2) intensity can be effectively tuned by varying the surfactant concentration, which can induce the defects in the as-obtained products. The probability of quenching and nonradiative relaxation from 4F7/2, ²H11/2, and 4S3/2 to 4F9/2 could be increased as the number of defects introduced by the surfactant increases, and thus the ratio of red to green emission is also changed. The upconversion mechanism has been analyzed and discussed, which may be a new complement for upconversion luminescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of tropical cloud clusters (TCCs) to tropical cyclones (TCs) is the process of TC formation. This study identifies five main environmental transitions for the development of TCCs to TCs in the western North Pacific by using a cluster analysis method. Of these, three transitions indicate TCCs that develop in monsoon environments and two in easterly environments. Their numbers, distributions, and interannual variability differ. On average, the development time, defined as the period from the TCC forming to it developing into a TC, for TCCs that develop in easterly environments is shorter than that in monsoon environments. For the development of TCC to TC in easterly environments, TCCs have fewer embedded mesoscale convective systems (MCSs), which are located closer to the TCC center. Moreover, there is a stronger inward short-term (less than 10 days) angular momentumflux (AMF) at middle levels (800-500 hPa) beforeTCC formation. Conversely, in monsoon environments, TCCs have more MCSs, which are located farther from the TCC center. A stronger inward short-term AMF at low levels (1000-850 hPa) is observed before TCC formation and develops upward during the development of TCC to TC. The characteristics of MCS and AMF are significantly correlated with the development time of TCC to TC. In summary, large-scale easterly and monsoon environments cause TCCs to have different MCS and AMF characteristics, leading to higher efficiency for TCCs developing into TCs in easterly environments compared to monsoon environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information technology in a cyber-physical power system plays a significant role in quickly regulating the energy flow that can cope with the complexity of power system operation and control. The energy processing capability of power systems depends heavily on the reliability of information systems. The reliability model of cyber space includes not only the binary-state operation-failure representation of physical devices, but also the multi-state representation of information flow in corresponding networks. This paper proposes a reliability modeling and assessment method for the power information system (i.e., cyber space in power system). The proposed composite Markov model would couple physical characteristics and information flow performances in a two-layer model. The proposed reliability methods combine the sequential Monte-Carlo simulation with the linear programming model to acquire maximum flows that would supply power demands. The proposed methodology is applied to the reliability analyses of the power information system in the IEEE 14-bus system in which the performances of the proposed indices are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on studying abroad has documented the value of exploring students' interactions with the members of their host community with a focus on the theoretical concepts of identity, imagined communities, and communities of practice. Following this line of research, this qualitative study breaks new ground through investigating how nine Thai students studying in China navigated the complex process of identity negotiation in their imagined communities and communities of practice. This investigation revisits intercultural sensitivity, proximity and boundaries in exploring how the students' communities of practice afforded different opportunities to demonstrate their identities. The findings reveal that the students envisioned belonging to an imagined community of foreign students in China by demonstrating the identities of cross-cultural mediators and dedicated language learners. However, the misalignment between the students' imaginations and the realities in their host communities caused predicaments with their identity negotiation. The Thai students' multi-layered experiences and the social contexts of Chinese language learning influenced their identities, which in turn mediated their senses of belonging to imagined communities of Chinese speakers, and their self-perceived Chinese language competencies. Relevant pedagogical implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The instability of organic-inorganic perovskites in humid air is a serious bottleneck that restricts their practical applications in optoelectronics, although tremendous achievements have been made in organic-inorganic perovskite devices. Materials engineering is believed to be one of the most direct strategies to address this issue. Mixed-dimensional organic-inorganic perovskite microcrystals, which exhibit relatively good charge carrier transport owing to the limited grain boundaries and low defect densities compared to perovskite thin films, integrate the good humidity stability of two-dimensional (2D) and single-phase quasi-2D perovskites and the high photoresponse of 3D perovskites in an individual crystal, rendering them as excellent candidates for the development of high-performance photodetectors. Herein, the (C6 H5CH2CH2NH3, PEA)2(CH3 NH3, MA)n-1PbnBr3n+1 (n = 1, 3, 5, N) perovskite microcrystals were synthesized using an anti-solvent vapor-assisted method, and the optoelectronic properties of these microcrystals were investigated by fabricating photodetectors in a lateral configuration. The (PEA)2(MA)2Pb3Br10 and (PEA)2(MA)4 Pb5Br16 perovskites proved to be mixed-dimensional microcrystals, respectively, which consist of the single phases of 2D (PEA)2PbBr4, quasi-2D perovskite, and 3D MAPbBr3. The photodetectors based on the individual (PEA)2(MA)2Pb3Br10 and (PEA)2(MA)4Pb5Br16 perovskite microcrystals perform better than the (PEA)2PbBr4 microcrystal photodetector and exhibit higher humidity resistance than the MAPbBr3 device. The best performances are achieved in the (PEA)2 (MA)4Pb5Br16 microcrystal photodetector with a high responsivity of 182.63 A W1, detectivity of 2.51 × 1014 Jones, and gain of 5.58 × 102, which can detect an optical signal with an extremely low light power density of 2.47 nW cm-2. Our results demonstrate that developing mixed-dimensional perovskite microcrystals is a promising way to construct highly efficient and stable photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electrically bistable device has been fabricated using nanocomposite films consisting of silver nanoparticles and a semiconducting polymer by a simple spin-coating method. The current-voltage characteristics of the as-fabricated devices exhibit an obvious electrical bistability and negative differential resistance effect. The current ratio between the high-conducting state and low-conducting state can reach more than 103 at room temperature. The electrical bistability of the device is attributed to the electric-filed-induced charge transfer between the silver nanoparticles and the polymer, and the negative differential resistance behavior is related to the charge trapping in the silver nanoparticles. The results open up a simple approach to fabricate high quality electrically bistable devices by doping metal nanoparticles into polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The role of CARF, a calcium-responsive transcription factor, in colorectal cancer initiation and development is still unknown. Here, we report that CARF promotes colorectal cancer stemness through ERBB signaling pathway. Materials and methods: Both colorectal cancer cell lines and primary cells were used in this study. The levels of target mRNA and protein in the cells were examined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Gene manipulation was achieved by the lentivirus delivery system. Luciferase reporter gene assay was employed to analyze the transcriptional activity of the promoter. ChIP assay was performed for the examination of the binding between CARF and the promoters of MAPK8 and JUN. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was generated by the R2 program. Correlation analysis was performed using Spearman correlation analysis. Results: Aberrant upregulation of CARF has been found in tumor tissues of colorectal cancer patients and associated with poor prognosis. Ectopic expression of CARF promoted the sphere-formation activities, as well as the expression of stem cell markers in colorectal cancer cells and knockdown of CARF, inhibited these activities. The mechanistic analysis showed that CARF directly binds to the promoter of MAPK8 and JUN, promotes the expression of MAPK8 and JUN, activates the ERBB signaling pathway, and thereby promotes the maintenance of the stemness in colorectal cancer cells. Conclusion: CARF, as an oncogene, promotes colorectal cancer stemness by activating ERBB signaling pathway. The ERBB signaling pathway that serves as the main downstream effector of CARF could be an efficient drug target for colorectal cancer caused by aberrant expression of CARF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the effects of the reading-while-listening condition and the reading-only condition on English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' acquisition of the four dimensions of vocabulary knowledge: form recognition, grammar recognition, meaning recall, and collocation recognition. Accordingly, 24 words within four frequency groups were selected and total 60 Chinese EFL students were enrolled. The results revealed that new words could be learned incidentally in both conditions. However, more words were learned in the reading-whilelistening condition. A significant effect of word exposure frequency on incidental vocabulary gains was observed for acquisition of word form and grammar, but no significant effect was found for acquisition of meaning and collocation. Although the reading-while-listening condition was more effective for incidental vocabulary acquisition than the reading-only condition, it appeared that for these two conditions to be a valuable source for incidental vocabulary acquisition, both word exposure frequency and elaborate word processing were needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multinary copper-based chalcogenides have been exploited in photocatalytic hydrogen generation due to their exceptional visible light absorption properties and environmentally friendly character. Similar to other photocatalysts, to reinforce the charge separation and transfer is one of the most important pathways to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, which can be achieved by rationally designing the nanostructures and geometries of multinary copper-based chalcogenides. Herein, an improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is successfully realized in L-shaped Cu-Ga-Zn-S (CGZS) alloyed nanorods compared with the binary Cum31S16 and ternary CuGaS2 nanocrystals. The L-shaped wurtzite CGZS nanorods with a uniform spatial composition distribution are synthesized via a non-injection solution approach for the first time. The successive incorporation of zinc and gallium ions into Cu31S16 seeds leads to formation of Cu31S16-ZnS and Cu31S16-CGZS heteronanostructures and finally results in the formation of single phase CGZS nanorods. The intrinsic features of L-shaped wurtzite CGZS nanorods offer efficient spatial charge separation and electrical transport, which contribute synergistically to the improved photocatalytic activity. This study provides a new way to develop novel multinary copper-based chalcogenides with flexible nanostructures for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant δ13C-temperature (δ-T) relation has been established in many systems and is often used as paleotemperature transfer function. However, it is still unclear about the exact contributions of temperature variation to plant 13C discrimination because of covariation between temperature and precipitation (aridity), which reduces confidence in reconstruction of paleoclimate. In this study, we measured carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of 173 samples of C3 perennial herbs from 22 sites across a temperature gradient along the 400 mm isohyet in the farming-pastoral zone of North China. The results showed that precipitation obviously affected the correlations of temperatures and foliar δ13C. After removing the influence of precipitation by analysis of covariance ( ANCOVA), a more strongly positive relationship was obtained between site-mean foliar δ13C and annual mean temperature ( AMT), with a regression coefficient of 0.1636‰/°C ( p = .0024). For widespread species, Artemisia lavandulaefolia and Artemisia capillaries, the slopes (or coefficients) of foliar δ13C and AMT were significantly steeper (larger) than those of foliar δ13C and AMT where the precipitation influence was not excluded, whereas the δ-T coefficients of Polygonum persicaria and Leymus chinensis showed little change across the transect after deducting the precipitation effect. Moreover, the positive relationship between temperature and δ13C over the transect could be explained by soil moisture availability related to temperature. Our results may afford new opportunities for investigating the nature of past climate variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempted to delineate the relationship between the knowledge and regulation of metacognition, and to show how they interact to mediate the effects of task-induced involvement load on learning vocabulary. A total of 90 tertiary-level students completed a checklist on metacognition. Subsequently, they were assigned to complete three tasks with varying degree of involvement load and to complete certain vocabulary tests. Results showed that both the knowledge and regulation of metacognition are independent constructs, but closely and significantly correlated. The learners were sub-divided into two distinct ability groups (high vs. low) based on the knowledge-of-metacognition checklist, and two distinct ability group (high vs. low) based on the regulation-of-metacognition checklist. Overall, the learners were divided into four groups: (1) low knowledge/ low regulators; (2) low knowledge/high regulators; (3) high knowledge/low regulators; and (4) high knowledge/high regulators. Learners benefited the most by engaging in a task with the highest load of involvement. However, learners with a high level of regulation of metacognition performed well in the three tasks, which suggests a mediating role of learners' regulatory ability. Relevant implications were discussed on how to effectively apply taskinduced involvement load into learning new words from the perspective of metacognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a causative agent of porcine intestinal disease, which causes vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration in piglets. PEDV is associated with the most severe pathogenesis in one-week-old piglets, with mortality rates reaching 100%. A PEDV strain was isolated from the intestinal tract of diarrheic piglets from a pig farm in Jiangsu Province in March 2016, termed the JS201603 isolate. The isolated virus was confirmed to be PEDV via RT-PCR, electron microscopy, a cytopathic effect assay and sequence analysis. The S and ORF3 genes of the JS201603 isolate were sequenced, revealing that the S gene was associated with a 15-base insertion at 167 nt, 176 - 186 nt, and 427 - 429 nt, as well as a six-base deletion in 487 - 492 nt, indicating that it was a current epidemic variant compared with the classical strain, CV777. No deletion occurred between 245 - 293 nt of the ORF3 gene in the JS201603 isolate compared with the vaccine isolates YY2013 and SQ2014. An experimental infection model indicated that the piglets in the challenge group successively developed diarrhea, exhibiting yellow-colored loose stools with a foul odor. The piglets in the JS201603 isolate challenge group displayed reduced food consumption, lost weight, and in severe cases even died. No abnormalities were observed in the control group. The JS201603 variant isolated in this study contributes to the evolutionary analysis of diarrhea virus. The experimental infection model has established a foundation for further studies on vaccine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodetectors based on two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures have led to a high optical response, and a long photocarrier lifetime because of spatial confinement effects. Since the discovery of graphene, many different 2D semiconductors have been developed and utilized in the ultrafast and ultrasensitive detection of light in the ultraviolet, visible, infrared and terahertz frequency ranges. This review presents a comprehensive summary of recent breakthroughs in constructing high-performance photodetectors based on 2D materials. First, we give a general overview of 2D photodetectors based on various single-component materials and their operating wavelength (ultraviolet to terahertz regime). Then, we summarize the design and controllable synthesis of heterostructure material systems to promote device photoresponse. Subsequently, special emphasis is put on the accepted methods in rational engineering of device architectures toward the photoresponse improvements. Finally, we conclude with our personal viewpoints on the challenges and promising future directions in this research field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: A suite of MBPO5 (borophosphates-BPO):Eu3+ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) red emitting phosphors were synthesized and their luminescent properties were studied by excitation and emission spectra. Results: The energy gap of CBPO, SBPO and BBPO are 5.481, 5.498 and 5.604 eV, respectively. While, these samples showed similar total and partial densities of states. The x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated that the samples were simple MPBO5 phase. According to the absorption spectra, the band gap energies of CBPO:Eu3+, SBPO: Eu3+ and BBPO:Eu3+ were calculated to be 5.499, 5.516 and 5.659 eV, respectively. The spectra of all three MBPO5:Eu3+ samples were similar with main excitation and emission peaks at 394 nm and 594 nm, respectively. The concentration quenching did not appear with the increase of the concentration of Eu3+. The charge compensator can improve the emission intensity. The average decay time of CBPO:0.05Eu3+, SBPO:0.05Eu3+ and BBPO:0.05Eu3+ was 3.29, 2.54, and 3.15 ms, respectively. The above results suggested that this phosphor was qualified as red phosphor, which could be used as a near UV-based white LED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: A series of Eu2+ (0.0025≤ × ≤0.025) activated Sr2SiO4:xEu2+ (SSO:xEu2+) phosphors were synthesized via a sol-gel method. The phosphors were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The differences between α' and β phase of SSO in the density of states and energy band gap were investigated. Results: The energy gap of α'-SSO and β-SSO are 4.489 and 4.106 eV, respectively. While, two samples showed similar total and partial densities of states. Under the excitation by the ultra violet (UV) light (365 nm), the SSO: xEu2+ phosphor exhibited a green emission band from 400 to 700 nm, which was corresponding to the transition of 5d → 4f of Eu2+ ions. Two emission peaks at 464 and 532 nm could be obtained through Gauss fitting curves. The ratio of the blue to green emission peak decreased with the Eu2+ concentration and the peaks shifted regularly with it. The thermal quenching property was investigated and its activation energy was calculated. The results indicated that this phosphor could be a candidate of green phosphor for UV-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small RNAs are essential for a variety of cellular functions. Argonaute (AGO) proteins are associated with all of the different classes of small RNAs, and are indispensable in small RNA-mediated regulatory pathways. AGO proteins have been identified in various types of stem cells in diverse species from plants and animals. This review article highlights recent progress on how AGO proteins and AGO-bound small RNAs regulate the self-renewal and differentiation of distinct stem cell types, including pluripotent, germline, somatic, and cancer stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports preliminary indications that flashcards are helpful for promoting a sense of control over learning. Participants were 25 fifth-year primary school students, who were required to create flashcards to use outside of their classroom after receiving instructions on relevant techniques. At the end of the semester, flashcards were collected in order to explore notes taken by the students. Ten of the students also participated in a follow-up interview. Results indicated that the open-ended nature of the flashcards, combined with scaffolding provided by the teacher, facilitate students' autonomous engagement, although some techniques were rarely used and some were not maintained consistently throughout the experiment. Pedagogical implications for promoting self-access language learning are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty-two students with different word levels, all majoring in English, volunteered to take part in an extensive reading program. The participants were divided into two groups: EG (the experimental group), which received instruction in methods of extensive reading plus explicit vocabulary exercises, and CG (the control group), which only received extensive reading instruction. This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of these two different approaches on learning four levels of mastery of word knowledge (form recall, form recognition, meaning recall, and meaning recognition). The results showed that (a) both approaches resulted in significant gains in learning the four levels of word knowledge, but the combination of the incidental and explicit instruction yielded a deeper level of word knowledge; and (b) the students' vocabulary size played a decisive role in acquiring the four levels of word knowledge. These findings demonstrate that the efforts spent on direct teaching of new lexical items after extensive reading are worthy in EFL extensive reading classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined a group of learners' lexical inferencing strategy use, their vocabulary size, and their success in guessing word meaning. Participants responded to a questionnaire, and then performed a one-time reading of a short passage containing ten unknown words. A sub-sample of ten students participated in an interview. Four tests measuring their ability to recognize and recall form and meaning of the target words were used. Results revealed that (a) those who performed sufficiently in these tests used certain strategies more effectively than those who had relatively lower scores in these tests; (b) learners' vocabulary size played a significant role in using context effectively, and learners with a larger vocabulary size made more correct lexical guesses than those with a smaller one; (c) learners presented the best scores in form recognition, followed by meaning recognition, recall of meaning, and recall of form, which showed a gap between receptive learning and productive learning of an unknown word. Follow-up individual interviews showed that these learners' actual lexical inferencing practices in the reading experiment were in line with learners' self-reported strategy, reinforcing the validity of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the transient photocurrent of the plasmon-enhanced polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-Phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is investigated. Two kinds of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) enhanced devices were fabricated by doping the gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) into the anode buffer layer and inserting Au NPs between the anode buffer layer and the active layer. We probed the dynamics of the turn-on and turn-off responses to 400 µs square-pulse optical excitation from the 380 nm and 520 nm light-emitting diodes (LED) driven by an electric pulse generator. The transient photocurrent curves of devices with Au NPs at different positions and under different excitation wavelength are compared and analyzed. The charge trapping/detrapping processes that occurred at the interface of Au NPs and the active layer were observed; these exhibit an overshoot in the initial fast rise of photocurrent response. Our results show that the incorporating position of Au NPs is an important key factor to influence the transient photocurrent behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet banking is growing faster than other e-commerce sectors and has emerged as an evolution in applied banking technology. This study investigates the factors influencing customer intention regarding Internet banking services in Vietnam using elements of an extended technology acceptance model and the theory of planned behaviors. We use structured equation modeling to evaluate the strength of the hypothesized relationships. The results of this study indicate that the use of Internet banking services in Vietnam may be motivated by a set of specific factors (i.e., perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived credibility, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and attitude toward use). These results are expected to help banks understand the critical factors influencing Internet banking usage and to contribute to the creation of competitive promotional campaigns in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wnt proteins are secreted cytokines and several Wnts are expressed in the developing somites and surrounding tissues. Without proper Wnt stimulation, the organization of the dermomyotome and myotome can become defective. These Wnt signals received by somitic cells can lead to activation of Pax3/Pax7 and myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), especially Myf5 and MyoD. However, it is currently unknown whether Wnts activate Myf5 and MyoD through direct targeting of their cis-regulatory elements or via indirect pathways. To clarify this issue, in the present study, we tested the regulation of MyoD cis-regulatory elements by Wnt3a secreted from human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293T cells. We found that Wnt3a activated the MyoD proximal 6.0k promoter (P6P) only marginally, but highly enhanced the activity of the composite P6P plus distal enhancer (DE) reporter through canonical and non-canonical pathways. Further screening of the intervening fragments between the DE and the P6P identified a strong Wnt-response element (WRE) in the upstream -8 to -9k region (L fragment) that acted independently of the DE, but was dependent on the P6P. Deletion of a Pax3/Pax7-targeted site in the L fragment significantly reduced its response to Wnt3a, implying that Wnt3a activates the L fragment partially through Pax3/Pax7 action. Binding of ß-catenin and Pax7 to their target sites in the DE and the L fragment respectively was also demonstrated by ChIP. These observations demonstrated the first time that Wnt3a can directly activate MyoD expression through targeting cis-elements in the DE and the L fragment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant ferredoxin-like protein ( PFLP) is a photosynthesis-type ferredoxin ( Fd) found in sweet pepper. It contains an iron-sulphur cluster that receives and delivers electrons between enzymes involved in many fundamental metabolic processes. It has been demonstrated that transgenic plants overexpressing PFLP show a high resistance to many bacterial pathogens, although the mechanism remains unclear. In this investigation, the PFLP gene was transferred into Arabidopsis and its defective derivatives, such as npr1 ( nonexpresser of pathogenesis-related gene 1) and eds1 ( enhanced disease susceptibility 1) mutants and NAHG-transgenic plants. These transgenic plants were then infected with the soft-rot bacterial pathogen Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum ( Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora, ECC) to investigate the mechanism behind PFLP-mediated resistance. The results revealed that, instead of showing soft-rot symptoms, ECC activated hypersensitive response ( HR)-associated events, such as the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide ( H2O2), electrical conductivity leakage and expression of the HR marker genes ( ATHSR2 and ATHSR3) in PFLP-transgenic Arabidopsis. This PFLP-mediated resistance could be abolished by inhibitors, such as diphenylene iodonium ( DPI), 1- l- trans-epoxysuccinyl-leucylamido-(4-guanidino)-butane ( E64) and benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (z- VAD-fmk), but not by myriocin and fumonisin. The PFLP-transgenic plants were resistant to ECC, but not to its harpin mutant strain ECCAC5082. In the npr1 mutant and NAHG-transgenic Arabidopsis, but not in the eds1 mutant, overexpression of the PFLP gene increased resistance to ECC. Based on these results, we suggest that transgenic Arabidopsis contains high levels of ectopic PFLP; this may lead to the recognition of the harpin and to the activation of the HR and other resistance mechanisms, and is dependent on the protease-mediated pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]