Search

Abstract Electron ptychography has emerged as a popular technology for high-resolution imaging by combining the high coherence of electron sources with the ultra-fast scanning electron coil. However, the limitations of conventional pixelated detectors, including poor dynamic range and slow data readout speeds, have posed restrictions in the past on conducting electron ptychography experiments. We used the Gatan STELA pixelated detector to capture sequential diffraction data of monolayer two-dimensional (2D) materials for ptychographic reconstruction. By using the pixelated detector and electron ptychography, we demonstrate the observation of the radiation damage at atomic resolution in Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs).

Particle plasmon resonance (PPR), or localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), utilizes intrinsic resonance in metal nanoparticles for sensor fabrication. While diffraction grating waveguides monitor bioaffinity adsorption with out-of-plane illumination, integrating them with PPR for biomolecular detection schemes remains underexplored. This study introduces a label-free biosensing platform integrating PPR with a diffraction grating waveguide. Gold nanoparticles are immobilized on a glass slide in contact with a sample, while a UV-assisted embossed diffraction grating is positioned opposite. The setup utilizes diffraction in reflection to detect changes in the environment’s refractive index, indicating biomolecular binding at the gold nanoparticle surface. The positional shift of the diffracted beam, measured with varying refractive indices of sucrose solutions, shows a sensitivity of 0.97 mm/RIU at 8 cm from a position-sensitive detector, highlighting enhanced sensitivity due to PPR–diffraction coupling near the gold nanoparticle surface. Furthermore, the sensor achieved a resolution of 3.1 × 10−4 refractive index unit and a detection limit of 4.4 pM for detection of anti-DNP. The sensitivity of the diffracted spot was confirmed using finite element method (FEM) simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics. This study presents a significant advancement in biosensing technology, offering practical solutions for sensitive, rapid, and label-free biomolecule detection.

BackgroundBoth the Sport Education (SE) model and Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) have been connected to the theory of situated learning, which is a game-centered curricular model. TGfU emphasizes tactical awareness, decision making, and skill execution. The SE model provides a complete season during physical education (PE) lessons. Therefore, it is worth exploring the integration of TGfU with SE (TGfU-SE) model in PE courses, and whether the hybrid TGfU-SE model can achieve better learning effects for students than the TGfU model alone.PurposeThe purpose of the study was to compare the difference in learning effects between the TGfU-SE model and the TGfU model on students’ learning motivation, sport enjoyment, responsibility, and game performance.MethodsThis study used a quasi-experimental design to compare different learning effects between the experimental group (TGfU-SE) and the control group (TGfU). The participants lived in Taiwan, including two junior high school PE teachers and four PE classes with a total of 90 students (TGfU-SE group, n = 46; TGfU group, n = 44). Each teacher taught two PE classes, one with an experimental group and one with a control group. This study used four research instruments, including the Responsibility Scale in Physical Education (RSPE), Learning Motivation Scale in Physical Education (LMSPE), Sport Enjoyment Scale in Physical Education (SESPE), and Game Performance assessment instrument (GPAI). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and the independent t-test were used to analyze the data.ResultsThe results of this study showed that the TGfU-SE model had more positive learning effects on students’ learning motivation, sport enjoyment, responsibility, and game performance than the TGfU model.Conclusionwe concluded that the TGfU-SE model had a more positive influence on students’ learning performance than the TGfU model. It is suggested that the hybrid TGfU-SE model could be implemented effectively in the PE curriculum.

To make teaching personal and social responsibility (TPSR) more effective, this study aimed to determine whether integrating moral disengagement (MD) minimization strategies into TPSR can enhance students’ positive behaviors and reduce their misbehaviors in PE. A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was conducted with an experimental group and two control groups. One hundred forty-five students from nine classes in three middle schools were assigned to experimental group (TPSR + MD minimization strategies; N = 50), control group A (TPSR; N = 46), and control group B (general PE instruction; N = 49) respectively. A pretest was performed in the first week, and a posttest was performed in the 18th week. The results showed that integrating MD minimization strategies into TPSR could significantly reduce students’ misbehaviors in PE classes. However, the effects of the strategy on students’ positive behaviors (e.g., following rules, helping others, and cooperation) showed no improvement. This study made a breakthrough by finding that integrating MD minimization strategies could make TPSR more effective at reducing students’ misbehaviors. By understanding the psychosocial mechanisms behind student behavior in PE, we suggest that MD minimization strategies could be applied in the TPSR model.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an ongoing pandemic. Detection and vaccination are essential for disease control, but they are distinct and complex operations that require significant improvements. Here, we developed an integrated detection and vaccination system to greatly simplify these efforts. We constructed recombinant baculoviruses to separately display the nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Insect cells infected by the recombinant baculoviruses were used to generate a cell-based system to accurately detect patient serum. Notably, although well-recognized by our newly developed detection system in which S-displaying insect cells acted as antigen, anti-S antibodies from many patients were barely detectable by Western blot, evidencing that COVID-19 patients primarily produce conformation-dependent anti-S antibodies. Furthermore, the same baculovirus constructs can display N (N-Bac) or S (S-Bac) on the baculovirus envelope and serve as vector vaccines. Animal experiments show that S-Bac or N-Bac immunization in mice elicited a strong and specific antibody response, and S-Bac in particular stimulated effective neutralizing antibodies without the need for adjuvant. Our integrated system maintains antigen conformation and membrane structure to facilitate serum detection and antibody stimulation. Thus, compared with currently available technologies, our system represents a simplified and efficient platform for better SARS-CoV-2 detection and vaccination.

Our previous studies demonstrated that collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) is associated with obesity and, in addition, that hyperglycemia-suppressed CRMP2 augments malignant traits of colorectal cancer and is associated with advanced tumor stage. Regulation of CRMP2 profile was further explored in this study using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte adipogenesis as a study model for illustrating the roles of CRMP2 in metabolic homeostasis. Hyperglycemia inhibited expression of CRMP2, adipogenic machinery and adipocyte markers. CRMP2 displayed f-CRMP2 (62~66 kDa) and s-CMRP2 (58 kDa) isoforms at the growth arrest phase. Expression of s-CRMP2 was coupled with the mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) phase to direct cell proliferation and rapidly down-regulated in post-mitotic cells. In the late differentiation phase, f-CRMP2 was co-localized with tubulin in the cortical area. Insulin-enhanced CRMP2-glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) co-localization and CRMP2 puncta on lipid droplets (LDs) suggested participation of CRMP2 in GLUT4 translocation and LD fusion. Collectively, the CRMP2 functional profile must be finely controlled to adjust cytoskeletal stability for meeting dynamic cellular needs. Manipulating the s-CRMP2/f-CRMP2 ratio and thus the cytoskeleton dynamics is anticipated to improve glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity. In summary, our data provide molecular evidence explaining the functions of CRMP2 in physiological, pathological and disease progression in metabolic homeostasis and disorders related to metabolic abnormalities, including cancer.

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of a Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR)-based physical education (PE) program on students' responsibility and tripartite efficacy beliefs (i.e., self-efficacy, other-efficacy, and relation-inferred self-efficacy (RISE)). Methods: A quasiexperimental design with pretest and posttest quantitative methods was applied. The participants were 114 students assigned to the control or experimental group. Results: The results indicated that compared with both control group students and their own baseline values, the experimental group reported significant improvements in responsibility, self-efficacy, other-efficacy, and RISE. Conclusions: Implementing the TPSR model in PE can not only positively affect students' responsibility but also boost students' efficacy beliefs through the model's five formats (e.g. awareness talk) and application strategies (e.g. empowerment). PE educators are encouraged to strictly comply with implementing details of the TPSR model to effectively improve efficacy beliefs.

The learning process of pre-service physical education teachers is a crucial issue in the field of PE teacher education. Therefore, pre-service PE teachers' academic learning plays an important role in their expertise cultivation and career development. Purposes: This study examined whether preservice PE teachers' self-efficacy, other-efficacy, and relation-inferred efficacy could predict their engagement in academic learning based on the tripartite efficacy beliefs model proposed by Lent and Lopez (2002). The mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between other-efficacy or relation-inferred efficacy and engagement in academic learning was also examined. Methods: Data were collected from a sample of 316 pre-service PE teachers (60.76% male, 39.24% female; mean age 20.45 years). The teachers' perceptions of self-efficacy, other-efficacy, relation-inferred efficacy, and engagement in academic learning were measured using different validated questionnaires. Structural equation modeling with maximum likelihood estimation was used for data analysis. Results: Self-efficacy, other-efficacy, and relation-inferred efficacy of pre-service PE teachers could positively predict their engagement in academic learning. The relationship between relation-inferred efficacy and engagement in academic learning was mediated by self-efficacy. However, the hypothesis that pre-service PE teachers' self-efficacy would play a mediating role in the relationship between other-efficacy and engagement in academic learning was not supported. Conclusions: This study confirmed the effects of different efficacy beliefs on pre-service PE teachers' academic learning based on the tripartite efficacy beliefs model, which narrowed the gap by using only self-efficacy to explain the learning process. The findings suggest that interactive strategies could be introduced to teacher training or self-learning groups to promote other-efficacy and relation-inferred efficacy of pre-service PE teachers and further advance their engagement in academic learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway has widely been considered as a potential therapeutic target for head and neck cancer (HNC); however, the application of PI3K inhibitors is often overshadowed by the induction of drug resistance with unknown mechanisms. In this study, PII3K inhibitor resistant cancer cells were developed by prolonged culturing of cell lines with BEZ235, a dual PI3K and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor. The drug resistant HNC cells showed higher IC50 of the proliferation to inhibitors specifically targeting PI3K and/or mTOR, as compared to their parental cells. These cells also showed profound resistance to drugs of other classes. Molecular analysis revealed persistent activation of phosphorylated AKT at threonine 308 in the drug resistant cells and increased expression of markers for tumor-initiating cells. Interestingly, increased intra-cellular ROS levels were observed in the drug resistant cells. Among anti-oxidant molecules, the expression of SOD2 was increased and was associated with the ALDH-positive tumor-initiating cell features. Co-incubation of SOD inhibitors and BEZ235 decreased the stemness feature of the cells in vitro, as shown by results of the spheroid formation assay. In conclusion, dysregulation of SOD2 might contribute to the profound resistance to PI3K inhibitors and the other drugs in HNC cells.