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The dual tutorial system is a new educational model that involves two tutors, one from on-campus and one from off-campus, participating in the entire cultivation process of graduate students. Since the adoption of the dual tutor system in education to jointly cultivate professional degree students, it has achieved good results, but it has also created many problems. In this paper, we firstly clarified the reality of the dual tutor system of master of education through visiting and investigation, and then designed a questionnaire to investigate the understanding of master of education students about the dual tutor system, the guidance of internal and external tutors, and the communication between students and tutors, in order to understand the communication between master of education students and tutors. Then, we designed a questionnaire to understand the implementation status of the “dual tutoring system” of a master’s degree in education by investigating the understanding of the “dual tutoring system”, the guidance of internal and external tutors, and the communication between students and tutors. Finally, this paper puts forward the reform path of the “dual tutorial system” for masters of education. The results of the survey show that more than 70% of education master’s degree students support the “dual tutor system”, but nearly half of the students do not understand the specific content of the “dual tutor system”, internal and external tutors have basically accomplished their duties, and the student’s willingness to communicate with their tutors is not high overall. Suppose the reform path proposed in this paper can be realized in the actual operation of a “dual tutoring system” for a master of education. In that case, it can have a significant positive impact on the cultivation of a master of education.

Eastern European Marxism, taking a critical stance towards structuralism, gave rise to a unique paradigm of praxis-oriented semiotic aesthetics. This novel approach posits that signs emerge from humans’ social praxis and also function as a means of praxis. It further delves into the principle governing the generation and usage of signs, i.e., the Economy Principle, the homogenization of signs, the situatedness or contextual constraints, as well as their aesthetic features and transcendental attributes. As a result, the praxisoriented semiotic aesthetics within Eastern European Marxism exhibits distinct theoretical value.

The uniformity of growth and mechanical properties of grafted seedlings affect the quality of mechanical grafting operations. The growth uniformity of grafted seedlings in a greenhouse will be poor due to the uneven and unstable light and temperature conditions. Plant factories can cultivate grafted seedlings in the most suitable environment by regulating environmental parameters such as light and temperature. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the light conditions on tomato seedlings in plant factory and to develop an optimal cultivation light formula. The effects of light intensity (50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 μmol m−2 s−2) and photoperiod (10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 h a day(h/d)) on the morphological and mechanical properties of tomato seedlings were experimentally investigated. Orthogonal experiments were conducted involving light quality (R:B = 75:25, R:B = 50:50, and R:B = 25:75), light intensity (150 μmol m−2 s−2, 200 μmol m−2 s−2, and 250 μmol m−2 s−2), and photoperiod (14, 16, and 18 h/d) as independent variables to determine the optimal combination. Finally, a comparative grafting experiment was conducted between the seedlings cultivated using the optimal light formula and commercially available seedlings. The result showed that increasing light intensity inhibited hypocotyl length and promoted seedling stem growth, and excessive light intensity decreased seedling mechanical properties. The optimal light intensity for rootstocks is 200 μmol m−2 s−2, and the optimal light intensity for scions is 250 μmol m−2 s−2. Shortening the photoperiod would promote hypocotyl growth and inhibit seedling stem elongation. Different photoperiods had a significant impact on the mechanical properties of tomato seedlings. The most suitable photoperiod for rootstocks was 18 h/d and for scions was 16 h/d. The most suitable light formula was R:B = 50:50, 250 μmol m−2 s−2, 18 h/d. By analyzing the experimental results, the mechanical properties of seedlings grown by the regulated light environment were better than those of commercially available seedlings, and the success rate of mechanical grafting was 7% higher. Overall, in plant factories compared to commercially available tomato seedlings, tomato seedlings cultivated by the regulated light environment were more suitable for mechanical grafting. This research result provides theoretical support for subsequent research on grafting machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an innovative approach to sustainable timber construction by integrating traditional woodworking techniques with advanced robotic technology. The research focuses on three key objectives: preserving traditional craftsmanship, enhancing material conservation, and improving production efficiency. A meta-model-based framework is developed to capture the woodcrafts of mortise and tenon joints, which are prevalent in traditional Chinese wooden architecture. The study employs parametric design and robotic arm technology to digitize and automate the production process, resulting in significant improvements in material utilization and processing efficiency. Specifically, this study utilizes genetic algorithm strategies to resolve the problem of complex mortise and tenon craftsmanship optimization for robotic arms. Compared to conventional CNC machining, the proposed method demonstrates superior performance in path optimization, reduced material waste, and faster production times. The research contributes to the field of sustainable architecture by offering a novel solution that balances the preservation of cultural heritage with modern construction demands. This approach not only ensures the continuity of traditional woodworking skills but also addresses contemporary challenges in sustainable building practices, paving the way for more environmentally friendly and efficient timber construction methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.; F. vesca) represents a resilient and extensively studied model organism. While the AP2/ERF gene family plays a pivotal role in plant development, its exploration within F. vesca remains limited. In this study, we characterized the AP2/ERF gene family in wild strawberries using the recently released genomic data (F. vesca V6.0). We conducted an analysis of the gene family expansion pattern, we examined gene expression in stem segments and leaves under cold conditions, and we explored its functional attributes. Our investigation revealed that the FvAP2/ERF family comprises 86 genes distributed among four subfamilies: AP2 (17), RAV (6), ERF (62), and Soloist (1). Tandem and segmental duplications significantly contributed to the growth of this gene family. Furthermore, predictive analysis identified several cis-acting elements in the promoter region associated with meristematic tissue expression, hormone regulation, and resistance modulation. Transcriptomic analysis under cold stress unveiled diverse responses among multiple FvAP2/ERFs in stem segments and leaves. Real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) results confirmed elevated expression levels of select genes following the cold treatment. Additionally, overexpression of FvERF23 in Arabidopsis enhanced cold tolerance, resulting in significantly increased fresh weight and root length compared to the wild-type control. These findings lay the foundation for further exploration into the functional roles of FvAP2/ERF genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both cognitive decline and unhealthy lifestyles have been linked to an elevated risk of mortality in older people. We aimed to investigate whether a healthy lifestyle might modify the association between cognitive function and all-cause mortality in Chinese older populations. Methods: The final analysis included 5124 individuals free of dementia, selected from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey from 2011 to 2018. Cognitive function was assessed in 2011 using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). A lifestyle score was calculated based on five lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, diet, and body mass index. Cox proportional hazards models were performed to evaluate the association between baseline cognitive function and the risk of all-cause mortality, with an interaction term of cognitive function and lifestyle score being added to the models. Results: The average age of participants was 81.87 years old at baseline. During a median follow-up of 6.4 years, 1461 deaths were documented. Both higher cognitive function (HR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.96–0.97) and a healthier lifestyle (HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.87–0.97) were significantly associated with a reduced risk of mortality. We found that lifestyle significantly modified the association of cognitive function with mortality (p for interaction = 0.004). The inverse relation between cognitive function and mortality was found to be more pronounced among participants with a healthier lifestyle. Of note, among the lifestyle scores component, diet showed a significant interaction with mortality (p for interaction = 0.003), and the protective HR of the all-cause mortality associated with higher MMSE scores was more prominent among participants with healthy diets compared with unhealthy diets. Conclusions: Our study indicates that cognitive decline is associated with a higher risk of mortality, and such associations are attenuated by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, with a particular emphasis on healthy diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC2) family of transcription factors (TFs) is a vital transcription factor family of plants. It controls multiple parts of plant development, tissue formation, and abiotic stress response. We cloned the FvNAC29 gene from Fragaria vesca (a diploid strawberry) for this research. There is a conserved NAM structural domain in the FvNAC29 protein. The highest homology between FvNAC29 and PaNAC1 was found by phylogenetic tree analysis. Subcellular localization revealed that FvNAC29 is localized onto the nucleus. Compared to other tissues, the expression level of FvNAC29 was higher in young leaves and roots. In addition, Arabidopsis plants overexpressing FvNAC29 had higher cold and high-salinity tolerance than the wild type (WT) and unloaded line with empty vector (UL). The proline and chlorophyll contents of transgenic Arabidopsis plants, along with the activities of the antioxidant enzymes like catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) under 200 mM NaCl treatment or −8 °C treatment, were higher than those activities of the control. Meanwhile, malondialdehyde (MDA) and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content were higher in the WT and UL lines. FvNAC29 improves transgenic plant resistance to cold and salt stress by regulating the expression levels of AtRD29a, AtCCA1, AtP5CS1, and AtSnRK2.4. It also improves the potential to tolerate cold stress by positively regulating the expression levels of AtCBF1, AtCBF4, AtCOR15a, and AtCOR47. These findings suggest that FvNAC29 may be related to the processes and the molecular mechanisms of F. vesca response to high-salinity stress and LT stress, providing a comprehensive understanding of the NAC TFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has developed into a global health crisis. Pulmonary fibrosis, as one of the complications of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, deserves attention. As COVID‐19 is a new clinical entity that is constantly evolving, and many aspects of disease are remain unknown. The datasets of COVID‐19 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. The hub genes were screened out using the Random Forest (RF) algorithm depending on the severity of patients with COVID‐19. A risk prediction model was developed to assess the prognosis of patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2, which was evaluated by another dataset. Six genes (named NELL2, GPR183, S100A8, ALPL, CD177, and IL1R2) may be associated with the development of PF in patients with severe SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. S100A8 is thought to be an important target gene that is closely associated with COVID‐19 and pulmonary fibrosis. Construction of a neural network model was successfully predicted the prognosis of patients with COVID‐19. With the increasing availability of COVID‐19 datasets, bioinformatic methods can provide possible predictive targets for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the disease and show intervention directions for the development of clinical drugs and vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Net primary production (NPP) serves as a crucial indicator of the ecosystem's capacity to capture atmospheric CO2. Gaining insights into the dynamics of NPP and its driving mechanisms is pivotal for optimizing ecosystem carbon sink resource management. Since the implementation of the Grain-for-Green Program (GFGP) in 1999, the Yellow River Basin (YRB) has been one of the most significant areas for ecological restoration in China. However, our knowledge regarding the interannual variability (IAV) of NPP and the underlying driving forces in this region remains incomplete. In this study, we utilized a light use efficiency model to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics, IAV, and driving factors of NPP in the YRB during the period from 1999 to 2018. Our findings revealed that the average annual NPP in the YRB approximated 189.81 Tg C. Over the study duration, NPP significantly increased in 79.63% of the basin with an overall increasing rate of 6.76 g C m−2 yr−1. The most prominent increase was observed in the key GFGP implementation area, predominantly in the semi-humid region. Notably, the middle altitude region (1–1.5 km), semi-humid region, and grassland emerged as the primary contributors to the basin's total vegetation carbon sequestration. However, it is worth emphasizing that there was substantial IAV in the temporal trends of NPP, with the semi-humid region being the most influential contributor (62.66%) to the overall NPP IAV in the YRB. Further analysis of the driving mechanisms unveiled precipitation as the primary driver of NPP IAV in the YRB with a contribution of 62.9%, followed by temperature (23.07%) and radiation (14.03%). Overall, this study deepened our understanding of the IAV and driving mechanisms of NPP in the YRB under ecological restoration, and provided scientific support for optimizing the management of regional carbon sequestration resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]