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Both formative assessment and growth mindset scholars aim to understand how to enhance achievement. While research on formative assessment focuses on external teaching practices, work on growth mindset emphasises internal psychological processes. This study examined the interplay between three formative assessment strategies (i.e. sharing learning progressions, providing feedback, and instructional adjustments) and growth mindset in predicting reading achievement using the PISA2018 data. We focused specifically on samples from the West (the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) and the East (Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea) which comprised of 109,204 15-year old students. The results showed that formative assessment strategies were positively, albeit weakly, related to a growth mindset in the East, but not in the West. In contrast, growth mindset was positively related to reading achievement only in the West, but not in the East. The impacts of different formative assessment strategies on reading achievement demonstrated cross-cultural variability, but the strongest positive predictor was instructional adjustments. These findings highlight the potential synergy between formative assessment and growth mindset in enhancing academic achievement as well as the importance of cultural contexts in understanding their roles in student learning.

Teachers are playing crucial roles in the implementation of formative assessment, which has been widely recognised as a valuable strategy in enhancing students' learning outcomes. However, systematic analysis on factors that might facilitate or hinder teachers' intentions and implementations regarding formative assessment is scarce. This review covers 52 eligible studies and identifies factors, which have been categorised into personal and contextual factors, that influence teachers' intentions and implementations regarding formative assessment. The results of this review may benefit researchers, school leaders, and policy makers when they aspire to facilitate the implementation of formative assessment.

The goal of the study was to compare potential changes in architecture when different set sizes were manipulated as afunction of age difference and reading group difference in the Visual Search Task in Coglab. Based on the RT performanceof Chinese EFLs aged 11 15 years old in feature and conjunction search when target was absent/present across threedifferent set sizes (display size 4, 16 & 64), we conducted tests for architecture, stopping rule and dependency in visualsearch between typical and poor readers. What we are interested in are as follows: First, how a parallel/serial mentalarchitecture in visual search might be predicted by both item features and person characteristics; and second, if stoppingrule in target absent search is self-terminating/ exhaustive in nature. The aim of the study was to find cognitive behaviourthat would accommodate developmental deficiency in EFL reading.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a serious impact on the world. In this study, small RNAs from the blood of COVID-19 patients with moderate or severe symptoms were extracted for high-throughput sequencing and analysis. Interestingly, the levels of a special group of tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) were found to be dramatically upregulated after SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with severe symptoms. In particular, the 3′CCA tsRNAs from tRNA-Gly were highly consistent with the inflammation indicator C-reactive protein (CRP). In addition, we found that the majority of significantly changed microRNAs (miRNAs) were associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/unfolded protein response (UPR) sensors, which may lead to the induction of proinflammatory cytokine and immune responses. This study found that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused significant changes in the levels of stress-associated small RNAs in patient blood and their potential functions. Our research revealed that the cells of COVID-19 patients undergo tremendous stress and respond, which can be reflected or regulated by small non-coding RNA (sncRNAs), thus providing potential thought for therapeutic intervention in COVID-19 by modulating small RNA levels or activities.

Self-assessment is a fundamental skill for professionals because self-assessment can promote self-regulated learning and professional development. However, studies reporting the use of self-assessment instruments in the professional training context are scarce. This study aimed to re-evaluate the psychometric properties of the Self-assessment Practice Scale (SaPS), which was originally developed in the school context, and extend its use to the professional training context. A sample of 200 investigative interviewer trainees from Australia and North America were invited to complete the modified SaPS. After removing misfitting items, the confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed a first-order four-factor solution. The multidimensional Rasch analysis demonstrated that the resultant 16 items had satisfactory fit to the Rasch model. In general, the results supported the use of the 16-item modified SaPS as a valid measure for the sample in this study. The potential of using the SaPS in professional training contexts is discussed.

IntroductionTrypanosoma brucei, T. evansi and T. equiperdum are members of the subgenus Trypanozoon and are highly similar morphologically and genetically. The main differences between these three species are their differentiation patterns in the hosts and the role of vectors in their life cycles. However, the mechanisms causing these differences are still controversial.MethodsPAG3 gene was accessed by PCR amplification in 26 strains of Trypanozoon and sequences were then analyzed by BLAST accompanied with T. evansitype B group. RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 were used for revealing possible role of PAG3 in slender to stumpy transformation.ResultsThe procyclin associated gene 3 (PAG3) can be found in the pleomorphicspecies, T.brucei, which undergoes differentiation of slender forms to the stumpy form. This differentiation process is crucial for transmission to the tsetse fly vector. However, a homologue of PAG3 was not detected in either T. evansi or in the majority of T. equiperdum strains which are allmonomorphic. Furthere xperiments in T. brucei demonstrated that, when PAG3 was down-regulated or absent, there was a significant reduction in the differentiation from slender to stumpy forms.ConclusionTherefore, we conclude that PAG3 is a key nuclear gene involved in the slender to stumpy differentiation pathway of T.brucei in the mammalian host. Loss of this gene might also offer a simple evolutionary mechanism explaining why T. evansi and some T. equiperdum have lost the ability to differentiate and have been driven to adapt to transmission cycles that by pass the tsetse vector or mechanical contact.

To effectively treat osteoarthritis (OA), the existing inflammation must be reduced before the cartilage damage can be repaired; this cannot be achieved with a single type of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Here, a hydrogel complex with logic‐gates function is proposed that can spatiotemporally controlled release two types of EVs: interleukin 10 (IL‐10)+ EVs to promote M2 polarization of macrophage, and SRY‐box transcription factor 9 (SOX9)+ EVs to increase cartilage matrix synthesis. Following dose‐of‐action screening, the dual EVs are loaded into a matrix metalloporoteinase 13 (MMP13)‐sensitive self‐assembled peptide hydrogel (KM13E) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate/gelatin methacryloyl‐hydrogel microspheres (PGE), respectively. These materials are mixed to form a "microspheres‐in‐gel" KM13E@PGE system. In vitro, KM13E@PGE abruptly released IL‐10+ EVs after 3 days and slowly released SOX9+ EVs for more than 30 days. In vivo, KM13E@PGE increased the CD206+ M2 macrophage proportion in the synovial tissue and decreased the tumor necrosis factor‐α and IL‐1β levels. The aggrecan and SOX9 expressions in the cartilage tissues are significantly elevated following inflammation subsidence. This performance is not achieved using anti‐inflammatory or cartilage repair therapy alone. The present study provides an injectable, integrated delivery system with spatiotemporal control release of dual EVs, and may inspire logic‐gates strategies for OA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular organic framework (SOF) has recently garnered significant research interest in the field of luminescent materials. However, SOF with room‐temperature phosphorescence emission in solution is very rare due to the quenching of dissolved oxygen and free molecular motions, which would lead to nonradiative deactivation of triplet exciton in liquid state. In this work, a 3D cationic phosphorescent SOF is synthesized through host‐guest interaction between CB[8] and a tetrahedral monomer TBBP, which can rapidly adsorb anionic guests in solution. When anionic dyes are introduced, triplet to singlet Förster resonance energy transfer (TS‐FRET) in solution can be achieved, and delayed fluorescence with large Stokes shift can be realized. Additionally, when anionic drugs are introduced, the phosphorescence of TBBP‐CB[8] can be quenched due to charge transfer, enabling the detection of drugs through phosphorescence signals. Taking advantage of the fast adsorption property of 3D SOF, an INHIBIT logic gate with three inputs and two outputs is constructed. These findings provide a novel method to prepare phosphorescent functional materials and a new pathway to construct TS‐FRET system in solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectricity, one of the most desirable properties of non-centrosymmetric crystalline materials, has long been blooming in academic research, industrial manufacturing, and daily applications owing to its unique electromechanical transformation capability. Compared with inorganic piezoelectric ceramics dominating the market, molecule-based piezoelectric materials exhibit advantages of light weight, mechanical flexibility, and environment friendliness and have attracted widespread interest recently. However, investigations on molecular materials with large piezoelectric coefficients are mainly focused on organic–inorganic hybrids, while pure organic homochiral piezoelectrics holding large piezoelectric coefficients remain scarce. Herein, by precise molecular modification on (S)-2-methylpiperazin-1-ium perchlorate ([(S)-MPP][ClO4]) with polar cyanomethyl groups, a homochiral pure organic compound (3S)-3-methyl-1,4-di(cyanomethyl)piperazin-1-ium perchlorate [DCM-(S)-MPP][ClO4] with large d22 of 18 pC/N was achieved, along with changes in the space group from nonpolar to polar, giving rise to second harmonic generation and phase transition behaviors. The modification strategy proposed here will benefit piezoelectricity enhancement in more chiral compounds, promoting their application potential in biological medicine, flexible devices, and green chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harnessing low‐density solar energy and converting it into high‐density chemical energy through photocatalysis has emerged as a promising avenue for the production of chemicals and remediation of environmental pollution, which contributes to alleviating the overreliance on fossil fuels. In recent years, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained widespread application in the field of photocatalysis due to their photostability, tunable structures, and responsiveness in the visible light range. However, most MOFs exhibit relatively low response to light, limiting their practical applications. MOFs‐derived nanomaterials not only retain the inherent advantages of pristine MOFs but also show enhanced light adsorption and responsiveness. This review categorizes and summarizes MOFs‐derived nanomaterials, including nanocarbons and nanometal oxides, providing representative examples for the synthetic strategies of each category. Subsequently, the recent research progress on MOFs‐derived materials in photocatalytic applications are systematically introduced, specifically in the areas of photocatalytic water splitting to H2, photocatalytic CO2 reduction, and photocatalytic water treatment. The corresponding mechanisms involved in each photocatalytic reaction are elaborated in detail. Finally, the review discusses the challenges and further directions faced by MOFs‐derived nanomaterials in the field of photocatalysis, highlighting their potential role in advancing sustainable energy production and environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feedback can be powerful, but its effects are dependent on what students do. There has been intensive research in recent years under the banner of 'feedback literacy' to understand how to help students make the most of feedback. Although there are instruments to measure feedback literacy, they largely measure perceptions and orientations rather than what learners actually do. This paper documents the development and validation of the Feedback Literacy Behaviour Scale (FLBS), which is a self-report instrument intended to measure students' feedback behaviours. A framework for feedback literacy was constructed with five factors: Seek Feedback information (SF), Make Sense of information (MS), Use Feedback information (UF), Provide Feedback information (PF), and Manage Affect (MA). An initial set of 45 questions were reviewed in an iterative process by feedback experts, resulting in 39 questions that were trialled with 350 student participants from four countries. Our final survey of 24 questions was generally supported by confirmatory factor and Rasch analyses, and has acceptable test-retest reliability. The FLBS provides a more robust way for educators and researchers to capture behavioural indicators of feedback literacy and the impact of interventions to improve it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many American colleges and universities are providing a First Year Experience (FYE) course or program for their first year students, those programs are not often customized to take into account international students' (IS) unique challenges. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study evaluated a FYE course that was customized for IS in a college setting. Nineteen IS and eight domestic students (DS) who attended FYE classes completed a survey; 18 of the 19 IS were interviewed. Overall, the FYE class was successful in terms of helping IS to familiarize themselves with academic resources and expectations, understanding American culture, making more American friends, and improving their English language skills. Suggestions for future integration of IS into FYE programs are discussed.

Aim and objectives: In the USA, undergraduate students gain more weight in the first year in college than at any other point in their lives. However, the factors that predict their weight gain are unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore the predictors of weight gain among first-year college students at a US college over a 3-month period. Design: Correlational longitudinal study using baseline and follow-up self-report survey data. Setting: A private college in the Northeastern USA. Methods: A total of 110 first-year college students were invited to complete both baseline and follow-up surveys 3 months apart. The baseline survey examined participants' knowledge, self-efficacy, attitudes, intentions and practices regarding physical activity, diet and stress management. The follow-up survey evaluated barriers to diet and exercise practices. Results: Knowledge, attitudes, intentions and behavioural practices did not predict weight change. However, students who gained weight perceived significantly more personal and environmental barriers than those who did not change weight on the following variables: lack of motivation to exercise, no time to eat healthily, perception of lack of healthy food options and impact of bad weather on exercise. Conclusion: Even living in the same college environment, students perceive environmental barriers differently, which was associated with body weight gain. Health education and promotion professionals should guide students to overcome barriers to healthy eating and exercise, as well as making the campus environment more conducive to healthy behaviour.

This study explores factors that predict students' self-assessment intentions and practices using a framework based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). A total of 1425 Hong Kong students (Primary 4 to Secondary 3) participated in this study. Students' intentions and practices pertaining to self-assessment and the predictors of their intentions and practices were assessed with 11 self-report scales aligned to the TPB constructs. The psychometric properties of scales were examined with Rasch analysis and the relations among the variables were investigated with path analysis based on Rasch-calibrated person measures. The results showed that attitude, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and perceived controllability were statistically significant predictors on intention to self-assess, while self-efficacy and intention had significant influence on self-assessment practice. Psychological safety was also found to have relatively weak but significant impact on both self-assessment intention and practice. This study lays a foundation for future investigations on how to promote meaningful self-assessment behaviour which is crucial for self-regulated and life-long learning.

Despite the theoretical argument and empirical evidence regarding the impact of self- assessment on academic achievement and self-regulated learning (SRL), the mechanism for this impact is understudied. The present study aimed to investigate the characteristics of self-assessment practices at different SRL phases and its relationship with academic achievement. Using a course assignment as the learning task, sixty-three students enrolled in a one-year master programme in a teacher education institute responded to an instrument assessing their self-assessment practices (including four self-assessment actions) at the SRL Preparatory, Performance and Appraisal phases of the task. Their final scores of the assignment were also collected. The results showed that self-assessment is a fundamental skill for SRL and occurs at each SRL phase with different patterns. Autoregressive relationships were found for all self-assessment actions between different SRL phases. Self-reflection at Performance phase was found to influence feedback seeking at Appraisal phase. Self-directed feedback seeking through monitoring at Performance phase was the strongest and positive predictor of academic achievement; and achievement had negative impact on all self-assessment actions at Appraisal phase. This study may assist educators and researchers to better understand the complexity of self-assessment in relation to learning process.

Although students who self-assess effectively often learn better, creating effective, low-cost interventions to help them do so is a critical challenge. This study examined the effects of a self-assessment diary intervention on 74 Form 1 (M[subscript age]=12.2 years) students' academic achievement, self-regulation, and motivation. After each homework assignment, students in the experimental group (n=37) completed a standardised self-assessment diary, while students in the control group (n=37) did no additional work. "Difference-in-differences" analyses showed that self-assessment diaries significantly enhanced students' academic achievement, self-efficacy, and intrinsic value. Students with lower past achievement benefited more than other students from the intervention. The intervention had no significant impact on effort regulation and self-reflection. Furthermore, effort-regulation, self-reflection, self-efficacy, and intrinsic value all did not mediate the link between self-assessment diaries and academic achievement. The findings can inform researchers and educators aiming to help students self-assess effectively to improve their learning.

This paper aims to comprehensively analyze quality features of commercial whole grain dried noodles and provide data reference for the formulation standards of whole grain dried noodles. 41 commercial whole grain dried noodles collected in 2019 and 2020 are analyzed and evaluated in this research.The moisture content is from 9.77% to 13.06%, while the acidity value between 0.00 to 4.46 mL per10 g,with a naturally broken ratio from 0.04% to 4.05%. The cooked broken ratio is from 0.00% to 3.33%. The cooked broken ratio of 90% whole grain noodle samples is 0%, with the cooking loss ratio between 2.46%and 11.36%. Taking the limits of the above indexes in LS/T 3212—2014 as the reference, except the acidity of 2 samples and the cooking loss rate of 4 samples which are beyond the limit values, all indexes of other samples meet the requirements. The total dietary fiber content is between 2.22 to 12.37 g per 100 g and the alkylresorcinols content is between 10.08 μg/g and 218.52 μg/g. The integral level of moisture content,acidity and alkylresorcinols content of samples in 2020 is higher than that in 2019, and the cooking loss rate is the lower, while there is no significant difference between two years’ samples in other indexes. The results show that the quality of commercial whole grain dried noodles varies greatly.

Objective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist produces antidepressant effects through the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). However, the mechanism of NMDA regulation of BDNF expression by receptor antagonist is unclear. Methods Corticosterone (CORT) was orally administrated to induce depressive-like behaviors in rats. Using elevated plus maze test, sucrose preference test, open field test, and forced swimming test to observe the depressive-like behaviors. Western blot was applied to analyze the expression of mature BDNF (mBDNF) and precursor (proBDNF) in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus dentate gyrus (DG). Results Chronic administration of CORT induced depressive-like behaviors in rats. Acute administration of NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine (MK-801) alleviated the depressive-like behaviors (P＜0.05). MK-801 increased the expression of mBDNF and decreased the expression of proBDNF in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus DG of rats(P＜0.05). Furthermore, administration of deacetylases antagonist suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) increased the mBDNF expression, decreased the proBDNF expression, and alleviated depressive-like behaviors in CORT-treated rats (P＜0.05). However, SAHA treatment after MK-801 showed no significant changes in the expression of mBDNF and proBDNF in the hippocampus DG of CORT-treated rats. Conclusions MK-801 can change the expression of mBDNF and proBDNF in the hippocampus DG through histone acetylation to play antidepressant effects, which suggest a potential target for antidepressant therapy.