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Objective·To explore the role of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) in osteochondral regeneration.Methods·Bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and knee joint chondrocytes were obtained from New Zealand rabbits. A-PRF was obtained by low-speed centrifugation of the heart blood of rabbits. The histological structure of A-PRF was observed by an optical microscope. The release of growth factors in A-PRF was detected by ELISA, including platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, insulin-like growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor. A-PRF's cytotoxicity and capability for promoting the proliferation of rabbit BMSCs were detected by live/dead double staining and MTT methods. The effect of A-PRF on the gene expression of type Ⅱ collagen, aggrecan, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCN) in rabbit BMSCs was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Transwell chambers were used to determine the effect of A-PRF on the migration ability of rabbit BMSCs and the chondrocytes. Rabbit knee osteochondral defect models were established, and 18 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. The A-PRF group (n=6) was implanted with A-PRF in the defect, the A-PRF+BMSCs group (n=6) was implanted with rabbit BMSCs on A-PRF, and the control group (n=6) did not undergo implantation. The rabbits were sacrificed 12 weeks after surgery and the knee joint specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E), toluidine blue and safranin O/fast green. Based on the surface morphology and histology of the knee joints, the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) scoring system was used for macroscopic and histological scoring.Results·A-PRF had a loose network structure and can slowly release growth factors. No cytotoxicity to rabbit BMSCs was observed after adding A-PRF, and the the capability for promoting the proliferation of rabbit BMSCs was significantly increased at 24, 48 and 72 h after adding A-PRF (all P

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are not only present in the human living conditions, but also can be produced in the process of human metabolism. The types and kurtosis of VOCs produced by the human body are closely related to human health and disease status. In recent years, analyzing VOCs components and concentration in human exhaled breath through non-invasive detection can be used to indicate human health status, which has been widely concerned in the field of clinical diagnosis and health monitoring. This paper reviews the clinical application value and common detection methods of exhaled VOCs, and elucidates pros and cons of each method . In this paper, the revolutionary progress brought by the new electronic nose technology to the detection of exhaled VOCs is described, which brings more possibilities for the high sensitivity, high throughput and intelligent detection of exhaled VOCs.

With the aim of establishing a zero-energy housing (ZEH), an intelligent envelope system composed of a passive dehumidification and solar collection system (PDSC system) based on thermodynamic energy theory and an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) unit has been developed, abbreviated as PSE (PDSC & ERV) system, which can be expected to control the indoor hygrothermal environment by using renewable energy further to reduce the heating and cooling demand for the HVAC system. In this study, the measurement experiments were conducted in a wooden house equipped with a PSE system, and the temperature and humidity distributions in the rooms were assessed using thermohygrometer sensors. The field comparison experiments for the three systems (exhaust-only ventilation system, ERV system, and PSE system) were performed separately under various meteorological conditions in summer and winter. The measurement results in summer showed that the PSE system has a significant dehumidification effect compared to the exhaust-only and ERV-only ventilation systems and could effectively reduce the latent heat load caused by ventilation. The measurement results in winter indicated that the PSE system has the effect of heat collection and humidity control as well as reducing the sensible heat load originating from ventilation.

The 2008 international financial crisis triggered retrospection on both theory and policy, reaching a macroeconomic consensus that the financial system plays an important role in the macro economy and macroeconomic theory must be restructured to incorporate endogenous financial factors. Reflecting on the inherent flaws of traditional mainstream economics, this paper puts forward a “macrofinance” proposition as a new paradigm for macro financial analysis. As a scientific methodology based on systematic logic, the major feature of the macrofinance framework is that we must analyze the financial system as a core part of a complete and endogenous analytical framework, instead of only focusing on the money or credit. The goal of “macrofinance” is to return to scientific economic methodologies by analyzing the inherent laws of modern financial systems to set up a comprehensive theoretical framework that unifies the financial sector with the real economy and combines theory and policy practice.

Previous studies suggested that the degree of pupil dilation distinguishes between different levels of flight cadets, particularly, in terms of task performance. In other words, pupil dilation is heavily influenced by cognitive load, and, therefore, may reflect flight ability. However, few researches paid attention to this correlation. In this study, we analyzed the eye movement performances of 40 flight cadets and 17 pilots performing a simulated airplane panel task, and assessed the flight ability and executive function (EF) of flight cadets. Based on our analysis, there was a marked negative correlation between cognitive load-induced pupil dilation and flight ability and training success. Moreover, considering the correlation between executive function and flight ability, upon adjustment of EF, pupil dilation still retained a unique predictive effect. Our results revealed that cadets who use less cognitive resources to complete tasks tend to have better flight abilities. Given these evidences, pupil dilation, caused by cognitive load, can serve as a potential indicator for pilot selection., Author(s): Zhong Zheng [sup.1] , Shihuan Gao [sup.1] , Yanjie Su [sup.1] , Yulu Chen [sup.2] , Xieshun Wang [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/02v51f717, grid.11135.37, 0000 0001 2256 9319, School [...]

Executive function (EF) has rarely been considered for adolescents' daily school outcomes or in conjunction with ethnic/racial discrimination. Using 2-week, daily data from 137 ethnic/racial minority adolescents (M[subscript age] = 14.56; 53% female; 56% Black, 19% Latinx, 7% Asian, 7% Native, 12% other [e.g., multiracial]) in the Midwest United States, this study examined same-day, within-person associations between EF and school engagement (controlling for prior-day engagement), and how these associations varied by adolescents' daily experiences of ethnic/racial discrimination. Two EF components, inhibitory control and working memory, were associated with higher levels of school engagement on the same day, only on days when adolescents reported lower than their typical levels of discrimination. An alternative, indirect effect (i.e., discrimination compromised same-day school engagement via EF) was not observed. Findings highlight novel mechanisms through which discrimination may contribute to educational disparities.

To date, cross-cultural studies on Theory of Mind (ToM) have predominantly focused on preschoolers. This study focuses on middle childhood, comparing two samples of mainland Chinese (n = 126) and Australian (n = 83) children aged between 5.5 and 12 years. Strange Stories, the most commonly used measure of ToM, was employed. The study aimed to examine the one- versus two-factor structure and measurement invariance of Strange Stories across two cultures; use the verified invariant model of Strange Stories to compare children's cognitive and affective ToM across two cultures; and finally, to investigate correlates of individual differences on Strange Stories cross-culturally. Multiple-groups confirmatory factor analysis revealed the measurement invariance of a two-factor model of Strange Stories (cognitive and affective) in both groups. Chinese children performed comparably to Australian children on cognitive ToM stories, but more poorly than Australian children on affective ToM stories. There were cultural differences in the correlates of ToM. The number of older siblings was a positive predictor of cognitive ToM for Chinese children, but a negative predictor of cognitive ToM for Australian children. The findings confirm that Strange Stories is a reliable measure for evaluating ToM in school-aged children from mainland China and Australia and highlight the importance of considering both cognitive and affective aspects of ToM in cross-cultural comparison.