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A 10-Hz cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could increase corticobulbar tract excitability in healthy individuals. However, its clinical efficacy for poststroke dysphagia (PSD) remains unclear. To investigate the effectiveness of 10-Hz cerebellar rTMS in PSD patients with infratentorial stroke (IS). In this single-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 42 PSD patients with subacute IS were allocated to three groups: bilateral cerebellar rTMS (biCRB-rTMS), unilateral cerebellar rTMS (uniCRB-rTMS), or sham-rTMS. The stimulation parameters were 5 trains of 50 stimuli at 10 Hz with an interval of 10 s at 90% of the thenar resting motor threshold (RMT). The Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) was assessed at T0 (baseline), T1 (day 0 after intervention), and T2 (day 14 after intervention), whereas the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS), Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS), and neurophysiological parameters were evaluated at T0 and T1. Significant time and intervention interaction effects were observed for the FOIS score (F = 3.045, p = 0.022). The changes in the FOIS scores at T1 and T2 were both significantly higher in the biCRB-rTMS group than in the sham-rTMS group (p < 0.05). The uniCRB-rTMS and biCRB-rTMS groups demonstrated greater changes in the DOSS and PAS at T1, compared with the sham-rTMS group (p < 0.05). Bilateral corticobulbar tract excitability partly increased in the biCRB-rTMS and uniCRB-rTMS groups at T1, compared with T0. The percent changes in corticobulbar tract excitability parameters at T1 showed no difference among three groups. A 10-Hz bilateral cerebellar rTMS is a promising, noninvasive treatment for subacute infratentorial PSD. • 10Hz bilateral cerebellar rTMS is curative for post stroke dysphagia. • Cerebellar rTMS with double-cone coil is safe and well-tolerated in patients. • Corticobulbar tract excitability increased after combined therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral aneurysms (CA), an abnormal bulge in the arteries that supply blood to the brain, are prone to rupture and can cause hemorrhagic stroke. Physicians can treat CA by blocking blood flow to the aneurysmal sac via clipping of the aneurysm neck via open procedure, or endovascular occlusion of the aneurysm with embolic materials to promote thrombus formation to prevent further inflow of blood into the aneurysm. Endovascular treatment options for CA still have significant limitations in terms of safety, usability in coagulopathic patients, and risks of device migration. Bioactive embolic therapies, consisting of non-toxic bioresorbable materials that encourage the growth of neointima across the aneurysm neck, are needed to improve the healing of CA. In this work, the bioinspired silk-elastinlike protein-based polymer (SELP 815K), was used to embolize aneurysms in a rabbit elastase model. SELP 815K effectively embolized the model aneurysms in vivo , achieving >90% occlusion, using commercial microcatheters. No device-associated adverse effects were observed in any of the animals, and SELP 815K showed no cytotoxicity. SELP embolization did not show any deleterious effects to local tissues, and features consistent with reendothelialization of the aneurysm neck were noted in histological examination one-month post-embolization. SELP 815K shows promise as an embolic treatment for unruptured CA. Unruptured cerebral aneurysms are present in approximately 3% of the population, with a fatality rate of up to 65% upon rupture. In this work a silk-elastinlike protein polymer (SELP) is explored as a liquid embolic for occlusion of cerebral aneurysms. This embolic exists as a liquid at room temperature before rapidly forming a gel at physiological temperature. This shape filling property was used to successfully occlude cerebral aneurysms in rabbits, with stable occlusion persisting for over thirty days. SELP occlusions show evidence for reendothelialization of the aneurysm sac and provide an opportunity for delivery of bioactive agents to further improve treatments. Graphical Abstract. SELP liquid embolic mode of action. shows a cerebral aneurysm, the intended treatment target for SELP liquid embolic. Two angiogram still frames of the elastase- induced rabbit animal model pre- and post-embolization with SELP 815K. The red box highlights the treated aneurysm, and the small black circle is a 6.1 mm diameter calibration. Illustrations show the insertion of the balloon and microcatheter, the inflation of the balloon, followed by the injection of the SELP liquid embolic, the physical transformation of the SELP liquid embolic from a solution of polymer strands to a physical gel, followed by the removal of the microcatheter and the balloon. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional evaluation model was established to evaluate the carrying capacity of regional ecological environment to social economic development, based on the study on the relationship between environmental quality, ecological quality and social economy. It includes socio-economic subsystem, ecological subsystem and environment subsystem. X axis represents the level of ecological quality index; Y axis represents the level of environment quality index; Z-axis represents the level of socio-economic development index. The three-dimensional cube model divides into eight blocks of “I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII”, which represent different social and economic development levels and the integrated status of ecological environmental quality. It covers 25 indicators of social economic development, ecological quality, and environmental quality. Entropy weighting method was adopted to determine the weight of each index. Ecological quality index, environmental quality index and socio-economic development index were divided into three grades; the subsystem index of grade Ⅱ is taken as the inflection points Xip, Yip and Zip respectively. 11 prefecture-level cities in Jiangxi province in China were used as a study on carrying capacity evaluation for regional ecological environment to social economic development by the three-dimensional evaluation model. The comprehensive evaluation index and indexes of each subsystem were calculated. The actual ecological environmental quality and socio-economic values of the study area were compared with the corresponding indexes. The study shows that the environment subsystem has a great influence on the comprehensive model. The comprehensive evaluation index of 11 prefecture-level cities in Jiangxi province has exceeded the medium value (grade Ⅱ ). Jiujiang, Ganzhou, Yichun and Shangrao in Jiangxi province are in the model block Ⅷ , other cities in Jiangxi province are in the model block Ⅴ . It shows that all cities of Jiangxi province are still at the intermediate level of carrying capacity and are in the development stage of economic and environmental coordination. The three-dimensional model effectively reflects the actual situation of regional ecological environment, provides a way for other regional carrying capacity evaluation. It is feasible and scientific, and the results are more intuitive, spatial, and visual. The model provides a reference for the macro-management and decision making of ecological environment in the government sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine how motivation, perceived learning support, learning engagement, and self-regulated learning strategies relate to learners' perceived learning outcomes of massive open online courses (MOOCs). An online survey was administered to 546 participants from four MOOCs. Seven types of reasons for attending MOOCs were identified, ranging from intrinsic to extrinsic motivation. One-way MANOVA revealed that learners with autonomous motivation demonstrate higher scores on perceived learning outcomes than learners with controlled motivation. In addition, multiple regression analysis methods showed that course design, interaction with instructors and peers, engagement in learning activities, and applying cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies significantly explain differences in perceived learning outcomes. Furthermore, mediation analyses demonstrated that cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies significantly mediated the relationships between motivation, perceived learning support, and learning engagement on the one hand and perceived learning outcomes on the other. Finally, practical implications are discussed and future research directions are recommended. • Three learner profiles of motivation for participation in MOOCs have been identified. • Learners with autonomous motivation demonstrate significantly greater perceived learning outcomes than their counterparts. • Significant predictors of perceived learning outcomes have been established. • Cognitive and meta-cognitive learning strategies mediate these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new tetracyclic bis-piperidine alkaloid, neopetrosiamine A (1), has been extracted from the marine sponge Neopetrosia proxima collected off the west coast of Puerto Rico. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data coupled with careful comparisons of its 1H and 13C NMR data with those of a well-known 3-alkylbis-piperidine alkaloid model. The new alkaloid displayed strong in vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of cancer cell lines as well as in vitro inhibitory activity against the pathogenic microbes Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium falciparum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Assay-guided fractionation of a moderately strong anti-tubercular extract obtained from the Caribbean Sea sponge Svenzea zeai afforded two novel 5(6→7)abeo-sterols, named parguesterols A (1) and B (2), as its active components. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Five new representatives of the cembrane class of marine natural products have been isolated as minor metabolites from an undescribed species of Eunicea, a sea whip collected near the Colombian Southwestern Caribbean Sea. The structure of the crystalline metabolite 1 was solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Structures could then be proposed for cembradienes 2–5 by comprehensive spectral analyses involving 2D NMR, IR, UV, and high-resolution mass spectrometry, as well as chemical interconversion studies. Compound 1 exhibited weak cytotoxicity in the NCI 3-cell line panel human cancer screening program, whereas compounds 1, 2 and 4 displayed significant antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This systematic review on massive open online courses (MOOCs) in higher education examined the research on the assessment of learning outcomes based on 65 peer-reviewed articles published between 2017 and 2019. This study aims to investigate the learning outcomes, related instruments, and assessment characteristics of these instruments in MOOCs. Learning outcomes that were examined in the studies that were reviewed concerned cognitive, behavioral, and affective learning outcomes. Twenty-five types of assessment approaches were employed to examine these outcomes and to identify the assessment characteristics. The results indicate that a consideration of the assessment of learning outcomes at the beginning of course design could support the formulation of explicit assessment goals and, in this way, instruct learners to work toward learning outcomes. A combination of knowledge tests and skill tasks can be used to examine cognitive outcomes in a particular MOOC. Outcome-oriented feedback rubrics are beneficial to support learner essay performance and interpretations of the utilization of rubrics could better guide providers to give peer feedback. A variety of behavioral and affective outcomes reflect multiple aspects of participant learning in MOOCs, which might contribute to better understanding by teachers and the provision of learning support. Furthermore, assessment tasks throughout the course may differ in difficulty and complexity, which could align with different levels of learner motivation. The findings provide a holistic picture of learning outcomes and related assessment instruments in current MOOCs. Curriculum designers and teachers could benefit from this study to consider appropriate learning outcome variables and instruments to apply in their MOOC practices. Future research might investigate the motivation of learners to participate in a MOOC and how this changes during a MOOC. This could help MOOC designers and teachers to align how learners are motivated, what they want to learn, and what they actually do learn. • Learning outcomes, instruments, and assessment characteristics of these instruments in MOOCs were exhaustively examined. • Learning outcomes and assessment instruments were discussed in different disciplinary fields in higher education MOOCs. • Learning outcome variables and assessment characteristics of the instruments in MOOCs were diverse. • A variety of behavioral and affective outcomes reflect multiple aspects of participants learning in MOOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of 3β-hydroxy steroid analogues possessing a contracted cyclopentane B-ring were prepared based on the initial activity screening of a recently reported naturally occurring marine 5(6→7)abeo-sterol against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All of the novel ring B abeo-sterols synthesized showed good inhibitory activity, whereas none of the starting steroids based on the common 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-cholestane nucleus, proved to be active. Therefore, the 5(6→7)abeo-sterol nucleus present in compounds 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 represents a novel scaffold for the development of new antitubercular agents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The VPOSRM framework model is proposed to construct the index system. • Industrial and agricultural consumptions of water account for a large proportion of water resources. • The pressure subsystem´influence weight was higher than that of other subsystems. • The supervision and treatment of water environment should be strengthened. • Water environment management policy guidelines are provided for Wuhan. Constructing an objective and reasonable evaluation index system was the key to scientifically evaluate the carrying capacity of water environment. The paper proposed a conceptual framework of vigor–pressure–organization-state-resilience-management (VPOSRM) and chose 22 indicators to establish the evaluation index system. The projection pursuit model optimized by quantum genetic algorithm was used to calculate comprehensive evaluating indicators. The results showed that Wuhan's Water Environmental Carrying Capacity (WECC) increased in 2006–2015 and the evaluation grade changed from grade IV unhealthy to grade III health. Through analysis the influence weights of indicators, per capital water resource, the proportion of irrigated area in commonly used cultivated land, water consumption of ten thousand Yuan industrial value-added, percentage of collective disposal of sewage and population density were top 5 indicators that affected Water Environmental Carrying Capacity significantly. By analysis the evaluation results, the improvement of WECC was attributed to the increase of daily sewage treatment capacity in resilience subsystem. The decrease of per capital water resources was the real reason for the change of WECC in 2010–2011. The development of agriculture and industry had put Wuhan city under great pressure for many years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]