Data_Sheet_1_Unveiling maker mindsets: a journey of formation and transformation through design thinking-making pedagogy within a lesson study context.docx

Maker Education (ME) focuses on fostering students’ Maker Mindsets (MM). However, prevailing ME practices often lack a structured approach, that impedes the effective development of students’ MM. To address this challenge, a Design Thinking-making pedagogy (DTMP) is used to design ME lessons through a three-month Lesson Study (LS) cycle. Employing a qualitative multiple case study methodology, we studied the development and transformation of MM in three elementary school students. Diverse data were collected, including student artifacts, video recordings of teacher discussions, and audio recordings of the interviews. The findings revealed common cognitive, self-efficacy, and collaboration improvements among the three students. Unique changes in individual cognitive skills, motivational patterns, and obstacles to collaboration were also observed. Furthermore, key factors influencing MM development were identified across individual, social, and pedagogical dimensions. Individual factors included prior knowledge, maker skills, and motivation, whereas social factors included teachers’ attitudes, recognition, feedback, and peer collaboration. Pedagogical practices, such as project difficulty, structure, and authenticity, play a crucial role in MM development. This study not only contributes valuable insights into MM development, but also underscores the pivotal role of tailored, personal real-life experiences in ME pedagogy. Furthermore, our study suggests that teachers can enhance ME pedagogy by intentionally designing it to facilitate MM in students, using the LS approach.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Intergenerational transmission of parental risky health behaviors in Chinese children: Are there socioeconomic status differences?.ZIP

BackgroundRisky health behaviors in childhood, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and having a poor diet, are the major sources of non-communicable diseases in adulthood. This study aimed to examine how parents affect children's risky health behaviors and whether intergenerational transmission differs based on socioeconomic status (SES).MethodsData were extracted from the 1991–2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Smoking (n = 5,946), alcohol consumption (n = 7,821), and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption (n = 3,537) were used as proxies for risky health behaviors in children. A binary choice model for panel data with a random-effect specification was employed to examine whether risky health behaviors can be transmitted from parents to their children. Subsequently, we conducted a seemingly unrelated estimation test (SUEST) to explore the differences in parental transmission between the different SES groups.ResultsWe found strong intergenerational persistence of smoking, alcohol drinking, and SSBs drinking behaviors, except for the mothers' smoking behavior. Mothers had a greater influence on children's alcohol drinking and SSBs drinking behaviors than fathers both in urban and rural areas and in different SES groups. The intergenerational transmission of SSBs drinking behavior exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing SES for both urban and rural families. In urban areas, mothers' alcohol drinking behavior has a decreasing trend with increasing education level, occupation, and income; however, in rural areas, the influence of mothers' alcohol drinking behavior occurred in the same direction with increasing education level and occupation type. In rural areas, the influence of fathers' drinking and smoking behaviors on children appears to mostly increase with increasing SES. Meanwhile, the influence of such behaviors among urban fathers would decrease with increasing SES.ConclusionParents' behaviors and SES can influence the initiation of risky health behaviors in their offspring. Thus, to promote healthy behaviors, policymakers can introduce health education programs for parents, particularly for those living in rural areas and with a low SES.</p

Photosensitizer-free, visible light-mediated heterogeneous gold-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryldiazonium salts with allyltrimethylsilane

An efficient visible light-mediated and heterogeneous gold-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates and allyltrimethylsilane has been developed. The photosensitizer-free cross-coupling reaction proceeds smoothly in MeCN under irradiation with blue LEDs at room temperature by using 10 mol% of SBA-15-supported triphenylphosphine-gold(I) complex [SBA-15-Ph3PAuCl] as catalyst and provides a general and practical route for the synthesis of allylarenes in moderate to good yields. This heterogenized gold(I) catalyst can be readily recovered via a simple filtration of the reaction mixture and recycled up to eight times without any significant loss of catalytic activity.</p

Long non-coding RNA PVT1/microRNA miR-3127-5p/NCK-associated protein 1-like axis participates in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm by regulating vascular smooth muscle cells

The long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (lncRNA PVT1) has been implicated in the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). However, the detailed mechanism requires further analysis. Our study was aimed at interrogating the mechanism of PVT1 in an H2O2-induced AAA model in vitro. The expression of lncRNA PVT1, microRNA miR-3127-5p, and NCK-associated protein 1-like (NCKAP1L) was examined in AAA tissues and H2O2-treated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Cell proliferation was assayed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and 5-Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assays. Meanwhile, 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining was performed to assess cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity. IL-1β and caspase-1 expression was also assessed using Western blotting to determine inflammasome activation in H2O2-treated VSMCs. Luciferase reporter assays addressed the possible interaction between miR-3127-5p and PVT1 or NCKAP1L, which was predicted by starBase analysis. PVT1 and NCKAP1L expression was elevated in AAA tissues and induced the AAA model in vitro, whereas miR-3127-5p showed the opposite trend. Functionally, PVT1 silencing promoted cell proliferation and reduced the apoptotic rate and inflammasome activation in H2O2-treated VSMCs. Mechanical investigation demonstrated that PVT1 acted as a sponge of miR-3127-5p to modulate NCKAP1L expression, resulting in suppression of VSMC proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and activation of inflammation. In conclusion, PVT1 participates in AAA progression through the miR-3127-5p/NCKAP1L axis and may be a promising biosignature and therapeutic target for AAA.</p

Nonstochastic Protein Counting Analysis for Precision Biomarker Detection: Suppressing Poisson Noise at Ultralow Concentration

Protein counting analysis obtains the quantitative results of specific protein through counting the number of target signals and displays a great value in disease diagnosis. Current protein counting techniques just stochastically count a small portion of the target signal, which causes a considerable information loss and limits the accuracy and precision of the protein assay at ultralow concentration. Here, we present a nonstochastic and ultrasensitive protein counting method through combining multiround evaporation-induced particle sedimentation, grid-assisted multiframe imaging, and microsphere-enhanced high-resolution signals. Using carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as the model, the dynamic range was from 5 × 10–18 M (aM) to 5 × 10–16 M, and the limit of detection was 4.9 aM. For CEA-spiked plasma detection, the relative standard deviation and the relative error of CEA concentrations were both lower than 8.0%, and the recoveries reached 92.5% and 98.8% for 20.0 aM and 40.0 aM CEA respectively. Two clinical plasma samples were measured by the standard addition method, and the results showed little deviation with the values provided by the hospital. The established approach suppresses Poisson noise of the stochastic counting, offers ultrahigh sensitivity, and features a remarkable potential in early disease screening

Zinc-Mediated Living Cationic Polymerization

Here, we present a facile and robust method for living cationic polymerization using zinc wire as a catalyst precursor. Well-defined poly(vinyl ether)s with various molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (Đ < 1.10) can be achieved at room temperature. Excellent living characteristics were observed in kinetic and chain extension experiments. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the polymerization was catalyzed by the in situ generation of trace zinc ions, which is the key to polymerization under mild conditions. The utilization of zinc wire offers several advantages, including reusability, easy separation and low metal residue. Furthermore, we extended the application of this method in continuous flow polymerization, opening up a promising avenue for scalable and efficient industrial production under mild conditions

Image1_Reciprocal Regulation of Mitofusin 2-Mediated Mitophagy and Mitochondrial Fusion by Different PINK1 Phosphorylation Events.jpg

Mitochondrial repair is essential to metabolic homeostasis. Outer mitochondrial membrane mitofusin (MFN) proteins orchestrate mitochondrial fusion that opposes mitochondrial degeneration caused by senescence. Depending upon physiological context, MFN2 can either mediate mitochondrial fusion or recruit cytosolic Parkin to initiate mitophagic elimination. Because it is not clear how these events are counter-regulated we engineered and expressed MFN2 mutants that mimic phosphorylated or non-phosphorylatable MFN2 at its PINK1 phosphorylation sites: T111, S378, and S442. By interrogating mitochondrial fusion, polarization status, and Parkin binding/mitophagy as a function of inferred MFN2 phosphorylation, we discovered that individual MFN2 phosphorylation events act as a biological “bar-code”, directing mitochondrial fate based on phosphorylation site state. Experiments in Pink1 deficient cells supported a central role for PINK1 kinase as the pivotal regulator of MFN2 functionality. Contrary to popular wisdom that Parkin-mediated ubiquitination regulates MFN-mediated mitochondrial fusion, results in Prkn null cells demonstrated the dispensability of Parkin for MFN2 inactivation. These data demonstrate that PINK1-mediated phosphorylation is necessary and sufficient, and that Parkin is expendable, to switch MFN2 from fusion protein to mitophagy effector.</p

Image2_Reciprocal Regulation of Mitofusin 2-Mediated Mitophagy and Mitochondrial Fusion by Different PINK1 Phosphorylation Events.JPEG

Mitochondrial repair is essential to metabolic homeostasis. Outer mitochondrial membrane mitofusin (MFN) proteins orchestrate mitochondrial fusion that opposes mitochondrial degeneration caused by senescence. Depending upon physiological context, MFN2 can either mediate mitochondrial fusion or recruit cytosolic Parkin to initiate mitophagic elimination. Because it is not clear how these events are counter-regulated we engineered and expressed MFN2 mutants that mimic phosphorylated or non-phosphorylatable MFN2 at its PINK1 phosphorylation sites: T111, S378, and S442. By interrogating mitochondrial fusion, polarization status, and Parkin binding/mitophagy as a function of inferred MFN2 phosphorylation, we discovered that individual MFN2 phosphorylation events act as a biological “bar-code”, directing mitochondrial fate based on phosphorylation site state. Experiments in Pink1 deficient cells supported a central role for PINK1 kinase as the pivotal regulator of MFN2 functionality. Contrary to popular wisdom that Parkin-mediated ubiquitination regulates MFN-mediated mitochondrial fusion, results in Prkn null cells demonstrated the dispensability of Parkin for MFN2 inactivation. These data demonstrate that PINK1-mediated phosphorylation is necessary and sufficient, and that Parkin is expendable, to switch MFN2 from fusion protein to mitophagy effector.</p

Catalyst-Free, Visible-Light-Induced Step-Growth Polymerization by a Photo-RAFT Single-Unit Monomer Insertion Reaction

Photoinduced polymerization is an attractive technique with the advantages of easy operation, mild conditions, and excellent temporospatial controllability. However, the application of this technique in step-growth polymerization is highly challenging. Here, we present a catalyst-free, visible-light-induced step-growth polymerization method utilizing a photo-RAFT single-unit monomer insertion reaction between the xanthate and vinyl ether groups. Benefitting from this reaction, a pendant cationic RAFT agent can be generated in each repeating unit of the polymer backbone. Both cationic and radical side chain extensions were successfully realized, providing a facile approach for the postpolymerization of step-growth polymers for the development of various functional polymeric materials

Comparison of the Toxicokinetics and Bioaccumulation Potential of Mercury and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Goldfish (<i>Carassius auratus</i>)

Both mercury (Hg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) demonstrate food web biomagnification in aquatic ecosystems, yet their toxicokinetics have not been simultaneously contrasted within a common fish species. This study quantifies uptake and elimination rates of Hg and PCBs in goldfish. Fish were exposed to contaminated food containing PCBs and Hg to determine dietary chemical assimilation efficiencies (AEs) and elimination coefficients (<i>k</i>_tot). To test first-order kinetics, three exposure regimes were established by varying the proportion of contaminated fish incorporated into the food. Dietary AEs were 98 ± 10, 75 ± 12, and 40 ± 9% for MeHg, THg, and PCBs, respectively. The <i>k</i>_tot values were 0.010 ± 0.003 and 0.010 ± 0.002 day^–1 for THg and MeHg, respectively. No significant differences were found in <i>k</i>_tot among the dosing levels for either THg or MeHg, confirming that Hg elimination is a first-order process. For PCB, <i>k</i>_tot ranged from 0.007 to 0.022 day^–1 and decreased with an increase in hydrophobicity. This study revealed that Hg had an AE higher than that of PCBs, while the <i>k</i>_tot of Hg was similar to those measured for the most hydrophobic PCBs. We conclude that Hg has a bioaccumulation potential in goldfish 118% higher than the highest PCB BMF observed for congeners with a log <i>K</i>_OW of >7