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To develop a high-accuracy low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung nodule diagnosis system by combining artificial intelligence (AI) technology with the Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS), which can be used in the future AI-aided diagnosis of pulmonary nodules. The study comprised the following steps: (1) the best deep-learning segmentation method for pulmonary nodules was compared and selected objectively; (2) the Image Biomarker Standardization Initiative (IBSI) was used for feature extraction and to determine the best feature reduction method; and (3) a principal component analysis (PCA) and three machine learning methods were used to analyse the extracted features, and the best method was determined. The Lung Nodule Analysis 16 dataset was applied to train and test the established system in this study. The competition performance metric (CPM) score of the nodule segmentation reached 0.83, the accuracy of nodule classification was 92%, the kappa coefficient with the ground truth was 0.68, and the overall diagnostic accuracy (calculated by the nodules) was 0.75. This paper summarises a more efficient AI-assisted diagnosis process of pulmonary nodules, and has better performance compared with the previous literature. In addition, this method will be validated in a future external clinical study. • A high accuracy LDCT lung nodule diagnosis system based on deep learning. • Better performance than the works in Lung Nodule Analysis 16 dataset. • Greater explanatory ability than other deep learning approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lived realities of agents involved in educational borrowing or transfer are often omitted as research and discussions reside predominantly at a macro level. Through the lens of a comparative educational change framework synthesising concepts in educational change and comparative education, this study examines the lived experiences of teachers in Singapore implementing differentiated instruction, a form of learner-centred education, borrowed from the U.S. Interviewing and observing teachers, we found that they experienced postmodern and political tensions around sociocultural expectations of teaching, learning, and learners. Simultaneously, they struggled with technological considerations like structural conditions in schools and insecurities around their competencies. These findings spell implications for how we support teachers involved in educational borrowing professionally, intellectually, and emotionally. Educational borrowing on the ground can benefit from the consideration of technological, sociocultural, political, and postmodern perspectives of educational change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learner-centred educational approaches, like differentiated instruction (DI), have been gaining popularity worldwide through the process of educational borrowing. Teachers’ experiences with educational change are complicated when the educational ideas they encounter are transferred from abroad. This mixed method study examined how ten teachers in Singapore implemented and experienced DI, an educational approach from the USA. Findings revealed that when the destination conditions are more aligned with source conditions, Singapore teachers experience greater successes in their DI implementation, specifically in creating environments that support learning, building on quality curriculum, and leading and managing the classroom. When teachers faced cultural, technological, and political misalignments, they encountered greater obstacles, specifically, in using assessment and adapting instruction to student variances. Findings spell implications for greater synergy across educational change and borrowing work, including more criticality when borrowing educational ideas across countries and the need to foreground contextual peculiarities in both source and destination countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction is presented by Tang and Huang, highlighting the interdisciplinary approach needed for building artificial living cells and emphasizing the significance of structural complexity and functional diversity in the field of artificial cell synthesis.

Existing force models for a vertical surface-piercing cylinder require water depth integration from the seabed to the free surface to determine the total inline force. However, acquiring the full wave kinematics profiles beneath the water surface presents a significant computational task. We revisit the finite water depth version of the well-known FNV theory (Kristiansen and Faltinsen, 2017) and propose a transformed version that expresses the total force solely in terms of the fully nonlinear wave properties at the free surface. This novel Transformed-FNV (T-FNV) formulation treats the Morison inertia term exactly and approximates the remaining two convective-derivative type terms with an assumption of slowly varying kinetic energy type terms. We evaluate the accuracy of this transformation against the original formulation, using wave kinematics obtained from fully nonlinear numerical simulations. Two T-FNV formulations are proposed with different input properties required. The first formulation uses the fully nonlinear wave kinematic properties at the free surface, whereas a fully approximated T-FNV formulation requires only the nonlinear free-surface elevation time history measured or calculated at the position of the column but in its absence. Both T-FNV formulations demonstrate good accuracy for wave forces for both deep and shallow-water cases against the original FNV model. The new T-FNV formulations also show the increased role of higher harmonics in the predicted force time histories when compared to those in the free-surface displacement, and the importance of using accurate higher order harmonic wave profiles in nonlinear force calculations. • We propose a transformation of the FNV theory to calculate wave loads on a cylinder. • This T-FNV expresses force with only nonlinear wave kinematics at the free surface. • We further propose an approximated T-FNV that uses only nonlinear surface elevation. • T-FNV shows an increased role of higher harmonics in force than surface elevation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversity is a socially constructed idea where differences are assigned values that are in turn shaped by local socio-political exigencies and narratives. Interpretations of diversity in Anglo-Saxon contexts tend to revolve around identity markers, such as race, gender, (dis)abilities and nationalities. Looking beyond Anglo-Saxon contexts, this paper examines how teachers in Singapore understand student diversity through their practices of differentiated instruction and, consequently, how these perceptions and practices engage with issues of equity. Teachers in our study interpreted student diversity primarily as academic readiness – shaped by students' abilities, attitudes and families. These teachers' experiences illuminate how analysing practices addressing diversity yields critical insights around dominant narratives and ideologies. In particular, findings point to a contextually situated construction of diversity and understandings of equity that are attuned to the national narratives of meritocracy, multiculturalism and academic excellence in Singapore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a nutrient rich emulsion extracted from plant materials, plant-based milk (PBM) has been the latest trend and hot topic in the food industry due to the growing awareness of consumers toward plant-based products in managing the environmental (carbon footprint and land utility), ethical (animal well-fare) and societal (health-conscious) issues. There have been extensive studies and reviews done to discuss the distinct perspective of PBM including its production, health effects and market acceptance. However, not much has been emphasized on the valuable antioxidants present in PBM which is one of the attributes making them stand apart from dairy milk. The amounts of antioxidants in PBM are important. They offered tremendous health benefits in maintaining optimum health and reducing the risk of various health disorders. Therefore, enhancing the extraction of antioxidants and preserving their activity during production and storage is important. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive review of how these antioxidants changes in response to different processing steps involved in PBM production. Presumably, antioxidants in PBM could be potentially lost due to thermal degradation, oxidation or leaching into processing water. Hence, this paper aims to fill the gaps by addressing an extensive review of how different production steps (germination, roasting, soaking, blanching, grinding and filtration, and microbial inactivation) affect the antioxidant content in PBM. In addition, the effect of different microbial inactivation treatments (thermal or non-thermal processing) on the alteration of antioxidant in PBM was also highlighted. This paper can provide useful insight for the industry that aims in selecting suitable processing steps to produce PBM products that carry with them a health declaration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been emerging interest in the role of ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy for high-risk prostate cancer, especially given its low α/β ratio. However, there is limited data on the long-term outcomes of this treatment strategy. The FASTR and FASTR-2 clinical trials were designed to assess the tolerability of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) in high-risk prostate cancer. FASTR was discontinued early due to unacceptable acute toxicity, whereas the acute toxicities in FASTR-2 were minimal. Herein, the long-term results from these trials are reported. Eligible patients had at least 1 high-risk feature as per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria for high-risk prostate cancer, no evidence of metastatic disease, and either a score of 3+ on the Vulnerable Elderly Scale or declined standard therapy. A total of 19 patients from a single institution were enrolled on FASTR between 2011 and 2015. They received 40 Gy to the prostate and 25 Gy to the pelvic lymph nodes in 5 fractions delivered once weekly for 5 weeks, along with 1 year of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The excessive acute toxicity in FASTR prompted several modifications in FASTR-2, including the omission of nodal irradiation. A total of 30 patients from the same institution were enrolled on FASTR-2 between 2015 and 2017. They received 35 Gy to the prostate alone in 5 fractions delivered once weekly for 5 weeks, along with 18 months of ADT. A total of 44 patients were eligible for analysis, 16 from FASTR and 28 from FASTR-2. Most patients were >70 years old (77%). High-risk features included Gleason score ≥8 (46%), T3-T4 disease (27%) and baseline PSA >20 (50%). With a median follow-up of 6.4 years, the cumulative incidence of grade ≥3 genitourinary/gastrointestinal toxicity was 50% among FASTR patients and 7% among FASTR-2 patients. At 5 years, the combined rates of biochemical failure-free survival, freedom from distant metastases, prostate cancer-specific survival and overall survival were 72%, 90%, 92% and 83%, respectively. A total of 12 patients (27%) required further treatment. No significant differences in clinical outcomes were noted between the FASTR and FASTR-2 cohorts. SABR for high-risk prostate cancer is an attractive option for reducing treatment burden. Clinical outcomes and toxicity with the FASTR-2 protocol were comparable to conventionally-fractionated radiotherapy plus ADT. Larger prospective, randomized trials exploring the role of SABR with ADT in high-risk disease are necessary to better understand the efficacy and tolerability of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runaway currents have been detected during unintended disruptions in the circular plasma with the limiter configuration in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). The runaway electron (RE) plateau can carry up to 80% of the pre-disruption plasma current. The highest runaway currents correspond to the lowest loop voltage, which is contrary to the observations made in most tokamaks. This anomalous behavior is attributed to the acceleration of the pre-existing wave resonant suprathermal electrons by lower hybrid waves during the disruption decay phase. Two distinct types of RE-related relaxation phenomena, distinguished on the basis of the amplitude of the magnetic fluctuations, have been found during the disruptions. Large-amplitude magnetohydrodynamic activity with indications of RE loss is observed during the RE plateau when the edge safety factor decreases to less than 3, and the external kink mode is discussed to resolve this anomaly. Burst-like relaxations with small-amplitude magnetic fluctuations and ∼0.6 kHz frequency are confirmed from the spikes in the hard x-ray array signals under a negative loop voltage. Measurement of the RE energy distribution suggests that the instability is driven by medium-energy REs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment for learning (AfL) discourses and practices have gained popularity globally, as educational policies and ideas are transferred across borders. An important area of investigation is how AfL may be construed and enacted differently, according to context. By examining how teachers in Singapore understand and use AfL – a core principle embedded within differentiated instruction – this study explores how context influences assessment, learning and teaching beliefs and practices. As part of a larger study of how 10 public school teachers in Singapore understand and use differentiated instruction, the research reported here adopted a qualitative approach to elucidate teachers' lived experiences. Data, which were analysed thematically, included 10 questionnaires, 30 semi-structured interviews, 39 lesson observation logs and pre- and post-lesson observation interviews. The analysis identified three themes: (i) teaching and learning for Assessment of Learning (AoL) rather than AfL, (ii) teacher-directed rather than learner-driven AfL practices and (iii) behaviourist approaches in teaching and assessment practices. The finding suggested that teachers in Singapore face tensions as personal beliefs and practices around teaching, learning and assessment collide and/or coexist with their sociocultural and educational contexts. Rather than assuming that educational ideas like AfL are acontextual or represent a 'best practice' that transfers easily across countries, scholars, policymakers and educators would benefit from considering more fully how AfL is a 'situated' concept, and reflecting more deeply on the complex interplay between source and destination contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A radio frequency chamber for rapid food thawing is presented. The proposed chamber is mainly composed of an aluminum shell, a plastic tray, and two metal cylinders with two metal disks located in the top and bottom of the chamber. The size of the thawing chamber is 300 × 300 × 230 mm. The proposed chamber resonates at a frequency of 433 MHz. The influences of the size of the frozen models and the chamber structure on the resonant frequency are analyzed. The simulated electric field of the chamber is distributed evenly and concentrated. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed chamber can provide a fast and uniform thawing effect compared with the other three current methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hydrocephalus, the pathological expansion of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled cerebral ventricles, is a common, deadly disease. In the adult, cardiac and respiratory forces are the main drivers of CSF flow within the brain ventricular system to remove waste and deliver nutrients. In contrast, the mechanics and functions of CSF circulation in the embryonic brain are poorly understood. This is primarily due to the lack of model systems and imaging technology to study these early time points. Here, we studied embryos of the vertebrate Xenopus with optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging to investigate in vivo ventricular and neural development during the onset of CSF circulation. Methods: Optical coherence tomography (OCT), a cross-sectional imaging modality, was used to study developing Xenopus tadpole brains and to dynamically detect in vivo ventricular morphology and CSF circulation in real-time, at micrometer resolution. The effects of immobilizing cilia and cardiac ablation were investigated. Results: In Xenopus, using OCT imaging, we demonstrated that ventriculogenesis can be tracked throughout development until the beginning of metamorphosis. We found that during Xenopus embryogenesis, initially, CSF fills the primitive ventricular space and remains static, followed by the initiation of the cilia driven CSF circulation where ependymal cilia create a polarized CSF flow. No pulsatile flow was detected throughout these tailbud and early tadpole stages. As development progressed, despite the emergence of the choroid plexus in Xenopus, cardiac forces did not contribute to the CSF circulation, and ciliary flow remained the driver of the intercompartmental bidirectional flow as well as the near-wall flow. We finally showed that cilia driven flow is crucial for proper rostral development and regulated the spatial neural cell organization. Conclusions: Our data support a paradigm in which Xenopus embryonic ventriculogenesis and rostral brain development are critically dependent on ependymal cilia-driven CSF flow currents that are generated independently of cardiac pulsatile forces. Our work suggests that the Xenopus ventricular system forms a complex cilia-driven CSF flow network which regulates neural cell organization. This work will redirect efforts to understand the molecular regulators of embryonic CSF flow by focusing attention on motile cilia rather than other forces relevant only to the adult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the traditional sinusoidal voltage source, a short rising nanosecond voltage source can generate a high electron current for a short rising time. This paper investigates how the nanopulse parameters such as the voltage amplitude, pulse duration, and repetition frequency affect the radical generation and the plasma bullet propagation in an atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet. An intensified charge-coupled device was used to observe the bullet propagation in the nanosecond gate mode. The plasma bullet's propagation speed is mainly affected by the applied voltage and externally biased electrodes rather than the pulse duration or the driving frequency. In contrast, optical emission spectroscopy diagnostics estimate that the radical density inside the atmospheric pressure plasma jet mainly increases with the repetition frequency. At the same time, the population of high-energy electrons can be controlled with the unipolar voltage amplitude. Thus, unipolar nanosecond pulses make it possible to control the emitting charges and the generated radicals independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to investigate experimentally controlling cavitating flow over NACA66 (MOD) hydrofoils by means of an active water injection along its suction surface. The continuous water vertically jets out of the chamber inside the hydrofoil through evenly distributed surface holes. Experiments were carried out in cavitation water tunnel, using high-speed visualization technology and the particle image velocimetry (PIV) system to study the sheet/cloud cavity behaviors. We studied the effects of this active control on cavity evolution with four kinds of jet flow at two different jet positions. We analyzed the effect of water injection on the mechanism of the cavitating flow control. The results were all compared with that for the original hydrofoil without jet and show that the active jet can effectively suppress the sheet/cloud cavitation characterized by shrinking the attached cavity size and breaking the large-scaled cloud shedding vortex cavity into small-scaled ones. The optimum effectiveness of cavitation suppression is affected by the jet flow rates and jet positions. The water injection at flow rate coefficient 0.0245 with the jet position of 0.45C reduces the maximum sheet cavity length by 79.4 % and the cavity shedding is diminished completely, which gives the most superior effect of sheet cavitation suppression. The jet blocks the re-entrant jet moving upstream and weakens the power of re-entrant jet and thus restrains the cavitation development effectively and stabilizes the flow field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have critiqued the current understanding of international students for glossing over its diversity, resulting in the reification of the "international student experience" as either homogeneous or clustered along nationality. Through a qualitative case study of 18 Chinese international students, this article examines the heterogeneity of their experiences despite a common nationality. Findings reveal that Chinese international students' communication in English, engagement with subject content, preparation for the future, and participation in extracurricular activities vary by year of study, field of study, and, to a small extent, gender. Even within a single nationality, experiences of students are uneven and intersect across various categorical lines, suggesting the possibility that other international students may encounter diverse and intersectional experiences as well. Findings point to how we need to re-conceive and research international students by examining the heterogeneous nature of their experiences, and how higher education institutions can differentiate support given to internationals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative impacts of increased temperature on maize yield are anticipated using simulation models. However, some temperature functions are parameterized with partial information. There is limited information on photosynthesis response to high temperature in modern maize hybrids. Improved photosynthesis-temperature functions are key for realistic yield simulations. Our experiment was aimed at building a functional relationship between photosynthesis and air temperature exploring temperature ranges relevant for global warming simulations. Maize hybrids from cold, temperate, and subtropical regions were included in the study to assess genetic adaptation. Results showed a trilinear response to temperature with an optimum of 40 °C. No genetic adaptation was observed among the diverse set of hybrids evaluated. Results contrast with common temperature-limiting functions indicating a decline in carbon assimilation above 30–33 °C. Our results suggest possible overestimations of negative impacts of global warming on maize yield due to the use of inadequate response functions relating carbon assimilation to temperature. • Increased interest exists in predicting maize yield under global warming scenarios. • Improved photosynthesis-temperature functions are important for realistic predictions. • We report an improved function exploring temperatures relevant for global warming. • Maize plants retain almost 40% of maximum photosynthetic rate at 45 °C. • The negative impact of global warming on maize is possibly overestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental physics of fatigue and imprint in ferroelectric thin films is pertinent to the by-electrode charge injection. The detectable charge injection depends on the applied voltage and time. However, a broad-time description of the charge injection is still lacking. It is not clear if the charge-injection spectra are derivable and comparable from two independent measurements. In our works, we obtained two charge-injection spectra from discrete fatigue and imprint measurements with a time span of more than eight orders of magnitude. The charge-injection spectra are in agreement with the direct measurements of charge-injection current transients under/after different biasing voltages. All results are congruently described by a series of analytical equations derived from the assumption of interfacial Schottky emission for the films with the presence of interfacial passive layers. The initial time below which the charge injection is minor is found to be of the order of 2.5 μs under -6.0 V on the top electrode but ten times slower under 6.0 V for Pt/IrO2/Pb(Zr,Ti)O3/IrO2/Pt thin-film capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remanent polarization reduces monotonically with the rising temperature from 295 to 430 K in Pt/IrO2/Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3/IrO2/Pt thin-film capacitors, although the saturation polarization of the films is nearly constant in the temperature range. Fast-pulse measurements of polarization retention shortened on the order of domain switching time indicate a rapid increase in the remanent polarization, which suggests backswitching of partial domains after the applied field with a long relaxation time. The qualitative modeling of domain switching currents predicts the presence of interfacial passive layers near top and bottom electrodes with damaged ferroelectricity, and the density of backswitched domains enhances with the elevated temperature along with reductions in both coercive voltage and interfacial capacitance, whereas the whole dielectric capacitance of the films increases abnormally, in agreement with the argument of the reversible domain contribution to the large dielectric permittivity in ferroelectrics. It is believed that the presence of interfacial passive layers can build in an opposite internal field to backswitch partial domains after the field. Therefore, the ultimate remanent polarization depending on the product of coercive voltage and interfacial capacitance reduces with the elevated temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sr0.6Ba0.4Nb2O6 (SBN) films have been fabricated on (001)Si substrates by a sol-gel technique. The annealing process was carried out in air at various temperatures ranging from 200 to 700 °C. Studies using x-ray diffractometry, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy showed that polycrystalline films, with a grain size of about 100 nm, were obtained only for annealing temperatures >=600 °C. The optical properties of these sol-gel derived SBN films were studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). In the analysis of the measured SE spectra, a triple-layer Lorentz model has been developed and used to deduce the optical properties of the SBN films. Our systematic SE measurements revealed that the refractive indices of the SBN films increase with the annealing temperature. This increase is more pronounced at around the crystallization temperature, i.e., between 500 and 600 °C. The extinction coefficients of the films also exhibit a similar trend, showing a zero value for amorphous films and larger values for films annealed at above 600 °C. Our results demonstrate that while crystallization helps to raise the refractive index of the film due to film densification, it also promotes scattering by grain boundary, resulting in a larger extinction coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical vibrations in Tip-Tilt modes affect the closed-loop performance of astronomical telescopes. Large integration time of the image sensor can restrict the Tip-Tilt mirror control bandwidth, which is not sufficient to mitigate structural vibrations. This paper proposes an improved repetitive control (IRC) of the Tip-Tilt mirror based on Youla parameterization to mitigate telescope vibrations. As a learning-type control strategy, repetitive controllers can achieve optimal performance when frequencies of vibrations are provided. Although the control bandwidth of the Tip-Tilt mirror is not improved with this proposed controller, the disturbance attenuation is enhanced. Furthermore, vibrations rejection provided by this proposed control method is not restricted by an accurate model, because this repetitive controller is a plug-in type. To reduce the waterbed effect induced by the IRC, a new Q-filter based on moving average filter is proposed. Simulations and experiments demonstrate a clear improvement of performance for the IRC in comparison with the classical repetitive controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed linear and nonlinear simulations to study the drive mechanism of the quasi-coherent modes (QCM) during the inter-edge localized mode period in HL-2A. With an unstable Resistive-Ballooning mode from linear simulations, the nonlinear simulation has successfully reproduced the QCM inside the separatrix at the outer mid-plane. The poloidal wave number and frequency from fluctuation analysis are almost the same as the experimental results. The phase shift between the electrical potential and the density fluctuation matches. Linear and nonlinear global profile scans show that the QCM is triggered by the density gradient. Based on these scans, some other experimental observations of the QCM are explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which calculated the strained and unstrained electron mobilities in Si1-xGex using an improved ionized-impurity Monte Carlo model. Material properties of the sample; Experimental details; Calculation of low-field mobilities; Conclusion.

Presents a study which developed a Monte Carlo model for ionized-impurity scattering and utilized it to calculate electron mobilities in silicon. Construction of the model; Simulation results; Conclusions.

Presents a study which numerically calculated the impact ionization coefficients in semiconductors following Keldysh's method. Discussion on Keldysh's energy distribution function; Analysis of group velocity and density of states; Rate of impact ionization scattering; Calculation of the energy-dependent mean free path; Results of the calculation of energy distribution function and impact ionization coefficients.

Spin accumulation effect and anomalous magnetoresistance resulting in spin dependent transport in NiFe/Al/NiFe single-electron transistors have been studied. The magnetic tunneling process is strongly influenced by the charging energy and a superconducting gap. The magnetoresistance is enhanced with decreasing bias voltage. In addition, a suppressed superconducting gap caused by spin accumulation was experimentally demonstrated. For higher bias voltage, the spin accumulation induced by the spin-valve effect is seen as periodic oscillation in a Coulomb blockade region. Below the critical voltage, which is the sum of the superconducting gap and charging energy, spin accumulation can suppress the superconductivity and induce anomalous magnetoresistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Tong‐Xie‐Yao‐Fang (TXYF) is a Chinese herbal formula for treating chronic diarrhoea accompanied by abdominal pain. The results were inconsistent in previous trials examining its effect. Aim: To study the efficacy of TXYF granules for treating diarrhoea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS‐D). Methods: We performed a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled randomised trial and enrolled 160 participants with IBS‐D. The participants had VAS scores ≥3 cm in IBS‐D global symptoms and ≥2 days in a week with abdominal pain and loose stools (Bristol score 5, 6 or 7). They were randomly assigned to received TXYF or placebo during a treatment period of 4 weeks, and they were followed up for 8 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome was adequate relief of IBS‐D global symptoms for at least 2 of 4 weeks during weeks 1‐4. Secondary outcomes included mean weekly VAS scores of IBS‐D major symptoms, mean weekly stool frequency, mean weekly Bristol score, and adverse events. Results: 155 of 160 patients completed the trial. We found a significantly higher rate of adequate relief of global symptoms in TXFY group during weeks 1 to 4 (57.5% vs 37.5%, χ2 = 5.6391, P = 0.017); logistic regression analysis showed a similar result (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2‐4.4, P = 0.016). Most of the secondary outcomes showed superiority of TXYF over placebo in weekly assessment from week 3 to week 7. The adverse event rate was low in both groups (3.8% vs 3.8%, P = 1.000). Conclusion: During a 4 week trial, TXFY granules were superior to placebo in controlling symptoms of IBS‐D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the value of the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE).Materials and Methods: A total of 315 patients were enrolled, who were randomly divided into the training cohort (n=158) and the validation cohort (n=157). The optimal cut-off value of the APRI was determined using the X-tile software in the training cohort, and was validated in the validation cohort. Several serum-based markers, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) and aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratios were included to compare with the APRI. To predict individual survival rate, independent predictors were included to build a nomogram.Results: Using the X-tile, a cut-off value of the APRI as 0.40 was yielded to distinguish patients with distinct outcomes in the training cohort, but failed for the N/L and ALT/AST ratios. In the training cohort, 66 patients with high APRI had poorer survival (p<0.001) than did 92 patients with low APRI. Using the same cut-off value of APRI, 61 patients with high APRI had poorer survival (p<0.001) than did 96 patients with low APRI in the validation cohort. Furthermore, a nomogram, including the APRI, TACE cycles, tumour size, and tumour number, was built based on the training cohort, and validated well in the validation cohort (concordance index [C-index] 0.713).Conclusion: The APRI is a promising marker to predict treatment response and outcome for HCC patients after TACE treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Context: One in three international students in the U.S. comes from China, propelled by a steep increase in undergraduate enrollment in U.S. colleges. This phenomenon has been accompanied by negative media discourse that portrays them as needy, passive, and unable to cope with their new educational demands. Purpose/Objective: Using a hybrid sociocultural framework that privileges student agency and locates students within their sociocultural milieu, this study investigated strategies Chinese international undergraduates used to cope with challenges they faced in U.S. colleges. Population/Participants: Eighteen participants--nine freshmen and nine sophomores-- from three liberal arts colleges situated in an urban context took part in the study. Research Design: This qualitative study followed participants through one academic year. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, engaged in three semi-structured interviews at the beginning, middle, and end of their academic year, and wrote four journal prompts. Findings/Results: Results reveal that student strategies cluster around themes of agency and self-reliance, as well as outreach and support. Students spent more time studying, used a range of learning techniques, developed self-help and psychological strategies, tapped into institutional and technological support, and reached out to teachers and peers for help. Conclusions/Recommendations: Students' coping strategies reveal fluid responses to intersecting and changing sociocultural expectations, nimbleness in their adaptations, and transience in the challenges faced. Other than contesting stereotypes around Chinese students, findings spell implications for differentiated and responsive college policies serving international students, faculty members, and local peers. It also points to the need to incorporate more longitudinal studies with clear conceptual frameworks so that novel and nuanced understanding of international students can emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mainland Chinese students form the largest international tertiary student population in the USA, yet most discourse around them tends to adopt a deficit perspective. Adopting a hybridized sociocultural framework, this qualitative study follows 18 Chinese undergraduates over one year to examine how challenges they face are influenced by sociocultural contexts and change over time. Findings reveal that Chinese students face challenges around relearning new language skills and communication styles, thinking like a ‘Westerner’, understanding new classroom expectations and sociocultural contexts, and finding balance between work and play. These challenges arise from the different school, societal, and cultural expectations in China versus the USA. Debunking stereotypes that Chinese international students are passive and needy, this study argues that they possess agency as evident in their responses to challenges faced and changes in their attitudes and behaviors over time. Findings aim to increase intercultural understanding between international students and staff and improve college policies that address students’ needs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) hexagonal prism omnidirectional radiation antenna is proposed, which consist of nine elements. The antenna elements are divided into two groups, one of which is placed in parallel on spaced three surfaces of the prism and the other is placed vertically on the other spaced three faces. Each parallel element consists of two coplanar microstrip patches which are nested in each other for miniaturization. Each vertically element consists of two improved dipoles. The working frequency bands of the proposed prismatic antenna are 3.45 GHz, 4.9 GHz, 5.8 GHz, and 15.2 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As international student mobility worldwide reach new heights, there have been increasing conversations around how tertiary institutions need to rethink how they relate to and support international students for success. This study asks mainland Chinese students, the largest proportion of international students worldwide, to voice their desires about how their USA institutional communities can support their college experience. Through 3 interviews and 4 journals with 18 first and second year students, it was found that Chinese internationals wanted their professors and host peers to be cognizant of and curious about their backgrounds, as well as to show care and initiative in approaching them. They also asked for improved international student services and more academic support to decode implicit norms of the academy. Findings stress the imperative for institutions to include international students in voicing ways to enhance their college experience so that all institutional members can benefit from the internationalization of higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim To explore the relationship between the time dinner is consumed (dinnertime or timing of dinner) and cardiometabolic risk factors among South-Asian Canadians at risk for diabetes. Methods We recruited 432 South-Asian adults affiliated with Sikh and Hindu Temples in Metro Vancouver. Participants deemed to be at risk of diabetes underwent a clinical and behavioural assessment. Dinnertime was measured via self-report. Clinical endpoints included HbA1c, apolipoprotein, blood pressure, weight, BMI and waist circumference. Results The mean age of participants was 65 years and 59% were male. Dinnertime was categorized into three groups: early (before 18:00 h); average (18:00 to 20:00 h); and late (later than 20:00 h). Among the participants, 19% ( n = 79), 44% ( n = 187) and 37% ( n = 157) reported early, average and late dinnertimes, respectively. Significant differences were found for dinnertime groups and years of residence in Canada, gender and employment. Compared with the early dinnertime group, the late dinnertime group lived in Canada for a shorter duration, comprised a higher proportion of males (66 vs 48%; P = 0.01) and were currently employed (37 vs 22%; P = 0.02). With regard to clinical endpoints, compared with the early dinnertime group, the late dinnertime group had lower systolic blood pressure (135.9 vs 131.7 mmHg; P = 0.03). After controlling for demographic characteristics, this difference was diminished. No significant differences were found between dinnertime and HbA1c, apolipoprotein, diastolic blood pressure, weight, BMI and waist circumference. Conclusion Findings suggest that, among this sample of South-Asian Canadians at risk of Type 2 diabetes, there was no association between timing of the evening meal and cardiometabolic profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anoxygenic, photosynthetic bacteria are common at redox boundaries. They are of interest in microbial ecology and geosciences through their role in linking the carbon, sulfur, and iron cycles, yet much remains unknown about how their flexible carbon metabolism-permitting either autotrophic or heterotrophic growth-is recorded in the bulk sedimentary and lipid biomarker records. Here, we investigated patterns of carbon isotope fractionation in a model photosynthetic sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, Allochromatium vinosum DSM180T. In one treatment, A. vinosum was grown with CO2 as the sole carbon source, while in a second treatment, it was grown on acetate. Different intracellular isotope patterns were observed for fatty acids, phytol, individual amino acids, intact proteins, and total RNA between the two experiments. Photoautotrophic CO2 fixation yielded typical isotopic ordering for the lipid biomarkers: δ13C values of phytol > n-alkyl lipids. In contrast, growth on acetate greatly suppressed intracellular isotopic heterogeneity across all molecular classes, except for a marked 13C-depletion in phytol. This caused isotopic 'inversion' in the lipids (δ13C values of phytol < n-alkyl lipids). The finding suggests that inverse δ13C patterns of n-alkanes and pristane/phytane in the geologic record may be at least in part a signal for photoheterotrophy. In both experimental scenarios, the relative isotope distributions could be predicted from an isotope flux-balance model, demonstrating that microbial carbon metabolisms can be interrogated by combining compound-specific stable isotope analysis with metabolic modeling. Isotopic differences among molecular classes may be a means of fingerprinting microbial carbon metabolism, both in the modern environment and the geologic record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study assessed the effectiveness and patient experience of the ClariVein® endovenous occlusion catheter for varicose veins from a large single-centre series in the UK. Methods A total of 300 patients (371 legs) underwent ClariVein® treatment for their varicose veins; 184 for great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence, 62 bilateral GSV, 23 short saphenous vein (SSV), 6 bilateral SSV and 25 combined unilateral great saphenous vein and SSV. Patients were reviewed at an interval of two months post procedure and underwent Duplex ultrasound assessment. Postoperative complications were recorded along with patient satisfaction. Results All 393 procedures were completed successfully under local anaesthetic. Complete occlusion of the treated vein was initially achieved in all the patients, but at eight weeks’ follow-up, there was only partial obliteration in 13/393 (3.3%) veins. These were all successfully treated with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. Procedures were well tolerated with a mean pain score of 0.8 (0–10). No significant complications were reported. Conclusions ClariVein® can be used to ablate long and short saphenous varicose veins on a walk-in–walk-out basis. Bilateral procedures can be successfully performed, and these are well tolerated as can multiple veins in the same leg. Early results are promising but further evaluation and longer term follow-up are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, we examine the interaction of nucleic acids with cell-like structures based on liquid–liquid phase separation of charged molecules (complex coacervation) and amphiphilic self-assembly (lipid vesicles). We discuss the mechanisms of their assembly and describe how they can be used as models for origin of life studies and for understanding two recently-described phenomena in modern cells: membrane-free organelles and exosomes. Hybrid cells with increased structural complexity are highlighted and we then briefly explore how strategies based on electrostatic and hydrophobic assembly can be used for designing and synthesizing delivery agents for therapeutic nucleic acids. While the physical mechanisms of self-assembly vary, both strategies provide viable routes for generating minimal compartmentalized systems, modeling cellular pathways, and for rational design of new synthetic cells for technological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms of adsorption and diffusion of hydrogen atoms on the PuO 2 (110) surface are investigated by density functional theory corrected for onsite Coulombic interactions (GGA + U). In order to find out the energetically more favorable adsorption site and optimum diffusion path, adsorption energy of atomic H on various sites and the diffusion energy barrier are derived and compared. Our results show that both chemisorption and physisorption exist for H atoms adsorption configurations on PuO 2 (110) surface. Two processes for H diffusion are investigated using the climbing nudged-elastic-band (cNEB) approach. We have identified two diffusion mechanisms, leading to migration of atomic H on the surface and diffusion from surface to subsurface. The energy barriers indicate that it is energetically more favorable for H atom to be on the surface. Hydrogen permeation through purity PuO 2 surface is mainly inhibited from hydrogen atom diffusion from surface to subsurface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gyro-Landau-Fluid (GLF) 3þ1 model has been recently implemented in BOUTþþ framework, which contains full Finite-Larmor-Radius effects, Landau damping, and toroidal resonance [Ma et al., Phys. Plasmas 22, 055903 (2015)]. A linear global beta scan has been conducted using the JET-like circular equilibria (cbm18 series), showing that the unstable modes are kinetic ballooning modes (KBMs). In this work, we use the GYRO code, which is a gyrokinetic continuum code widely used for simulation of the plasma microturbulence, to benchmark with GLF 3þ1 code on KBMs. To verify our code on the KBM case, we first perform the beta scan based on "Cyclone base case parameter set." We find that the growth rate is almost the same for two codes, and the KBM mode is further destabilized as beta increases. For JET-like global circular equilibria, as the modes localize in peak pressure gradient region, a linear local beta scan using the same set of equilibria has been performed at this position for comparison. With the drift kinetic electron module in the GYRO code by including small electron-electron collision to damp electron modes, GYRO generated mode structures and parity suggest that they are kinetic ballooning modes, and the growth rate is comparable to the GLF results. However, a radial scan of the pedestal for a particular set of cbm18 equilibria, using GYRO code, shows different trends for the low-n and high-n modes. The low-n modes show that the linear growth rate peaks at peak pressure gradient position as GLF results. However, for high-n modes, the growth rate of the most unstable mode shifts outward to the bottom of pedestal and the real frequency of what was originally the KBMs in ion diamagnetic drift direction steadily approaches and crosses over to the electron diamagnetic drift direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic experimental study was performed to understand the role of surface contact angles in affecting the process of fast liquid transfer. Surfaces with different wettabilities were used, and the transfer ratio (a, the amount of liquid transferred to the acceptor surface over the total amount of liquid) was measured for each pair of surfaces. A numerical model based on the volume of fluid method was developed to help understand the experimental results. The surface wettability was shown to significantly affect the boundaries between three regimes based on stretching speeds: quasi-static (surface force dominated), transition (surface/viscous/inertia forces all important) and dynamic (viscous/inertia forces dominated). Specifically, the values of the boundary speeds were found to increase with |a0 - 0.5|, where a0 is the transfer ratio in the quasi-static regime, and a0 is governed by the surface receding contact angles. Based on our results, an empirical equation to describe the transfer ratio as function of stretching speed was proposed. This equation can also be used as a prediction tool for the value of a for a fast transfer system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To examine the feasibility and potential health impact of a diabetes self-management education and support intervention involving peer support on glycaemic control and diabetes distress. Methods A total of 41 South-Asian adults with Type 2 diabetes were recruited for a 24-week diabetes self-management education and support pilot intervention involving peer support. The intervention consisted of six weekly education sessions co-facilitated by a certified diabetes educator and two peer leaders, followed by 18 weekly support sessions facilitated by two peer leaders. Education sessions were guided entirely by participants' self-management questions and also emphasized goal setting and action planning. Support sessions were based on empowerment principles and participants discussed self-management challenges, shared emotions, asked self-management questions, problem-solved in a group, set goals, and developed and evaluated action plans. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and retention. Primary health-related outcomes included HbA1c levels and diabetes distress (measured at baseline, 6 and 24 weeks). Programme satisfaction was also assessed. Results Pre-established criteria for recruitment and retention were met. Paired t-tests showed no changes in HbA1c and diabetes distress at 6 weeks. At 24 weeks, HbA1c levels deteriorated [54 mmol/mol (7.1%) vs 61 mmol/mol (7.7%)] while diabetes distress scores improved (2.0 vs 1.7). Conclusions Although feasible, findings suggest this peer-support model may have a positive impact on diabetes distress, but not on HbA1c levels. Culturally responsive modifications (e.g. intervention location) to the pilot model are needed and could lead to more favourable health outcomes for this community. Such a re-designed peer-support model will require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]