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Timely feedback is considered essential for supporting professional growth and personal development. However, it is difficult to employ such feedback in traditional learning environments. Recently, smartphones are considered as educational tools for supporting instructional activities. Therefore, this study attempts to leverage the advantages of physical textbooks and mobile devices. A pedagogical strategy called constructive feedback was proposed to provide learners with real-time and personalized suggestions according to the results of electronic assessment. Two types of connectivity techniques, namely QR Codes and hyperlinking, were applied for integrating printed materials and digital content. An experiment was conducted in a university course entitled Computer Networks, and a total of 80 students were recruited to participate in this experiment. The findings revealed that the strategy of constructive feedback had a significant influence on learning performance. However, no significant differences on learning performance were found between using QR Codes and using hyperlinking. Finally, implications of the findings were discussed for further research directions and practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to elucidate a reasonable model and the efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening on an elderly population. Two-stage HCC screening was conducted in a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-endemic area. First, participants underwent blood tests for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV antibody, serum α-fetoprotein (AFP), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and platelet count. Patients who were abnormal for any of the six markers were enrolled for second-stage ultrasonography. Suspected cases were referred for confirmation. HCC cases were followed for 4 years. All patients were linked to national mortality and cancer register databases to identify newly-developed HCC, 30 months after screening. A total of 461 males and 541 females were screened for HCC, with 15.1% testing positive for HBsAg and 44.3% positive for anti-HCV. Among them, 619 (61.8%) met the criteria of ultrasonographic screening; 527 (85.1%) responded, and 16 confirmed HCC (male/female = 8/8, 68.8 ± 8 years) cases were detected. All tumor diameters were less than 5 cm, and six were less than 2 cm. AFP and thrombocytopenia were two independent predictive factors of HCC. The overall survival rates of detected cases were 93.8% and 56.3% was 1 and 4 years, respectively. The only good prognostic predictor was 'underwent curative treatment'. Another seven non-HCC residents developed HCC after screening, and five of these were with either thrombocytopenia or AFP elevation. Under economical consideration, AFP and platelet count should be feasible screening markers of risk identification. Early detection and prompt treatment results in good prognosis in an aged population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) are found in a broad range of organisms, including bacteria, fungi and higher plants, and play different roles depending on their origin. A chitinase from Bacillus cereus NCTU2 (ChiNCTU2) capable of hydrolyzing chitin as a carbon and nitrogen nutrient has been identified as a member of the family 18 glycoside hydrolases. ChiNCTU2 of molecular weight 36 kDa has been crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. According to the diffraction of chitinase crystals at 1.10 Å resolution, the crystal belongs to space group P21, with unit-cell parameters a = 50.79, b = 48.79, c = 66.87 Å, β = 99.31°. Preliminary analysis indicates there is one chitinase molecule in the asymmetric unit, with a solvent content of 43.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The branched-chain amino-acid aminotransferase (BCAT), which requires pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) as a cofactor, is a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of the hydrophobic amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine. DrBCAT from Deinococcus radiodurans, which has a molecular weight of 40.9 kDa, was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. According to X-ray diffraction data to 2.50 Å resolution from a DrBCAT crystal, the crystal belongs to space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 56.37, b = 90.70, c = 155.47 Å. Preliminary analysis indicates the presence of two DrBCAT molecules in the asymmetric unit, with a solvent content of 47.52%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bowman–Birk inhibitors (BBIs) are cysteine-rich proteins with inhibitory activity against proteases that are widely distributed in monocot and dicot species. The expression of rice BBI from Oryza sativa is up-regulated and induced by pathogens or insects during germination of rice seeds. The rice BBI (RBTI) of molecular weight 15 kDa has been crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. According to the diffraction of rice BBI crystals at a resolution of 2.07 Å, the unit cell belongs to space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 74.37, b = 96.69, c = 100.36 Å. Preliminary analysis indicates four BBI molecules in an asymmetric unit, with a solvent content of 58.29%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lectins with sugar-binding specificity are widely distributed in higher plants and various other species. The expression of rice lectin from Oryza sativa is up-regulated in the growing coleoptile when anaerobic stress persists. A rice lectin of molecular weight 15.2 kDa has been crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. From the diffraction of the lectin crystals at 1.93 Å resolution, the unit cell belongs to space group P31, with unit-cell parameters a = 98.58, b = 98.58, c = 44.72 Å. Preliminary analysis indicates that there are two lectin molecules in an asymmetric unit with a large solvent content, 70.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]