Table_1_Exploring the relative contributions of learning motivations and test perceptions to autonomous English as a foreign language learning and achievement.XLSX

Past studies on the contributions of language learning motivations and test perceptions to language learning have been conducted relatively independently, with few simultaneously gauging the relative effects of these two types of variables on learning behaviors and outcome. In contexts where testing plays a significant role in language education, it is argued that both types of variables are likely to influence language learning. Through a series of multiple regression analyses, this study juxtaposed the relative effects of three types of language learning motivation (i.e., integrative, development and requirement motivation) and two types of perception of a high-stakes English test on Chinese high school students’ (n = 3,105) EFL learning practice and achievement, casting fresh lights on the motivational factors that may drive EFL learning. More specifically, it was found that integrative and development motivations were the major drives behind students’ overall effort expenditure on EFL learning for Year 1 students. For students from higher grades who were more closely confronted with the test, however, the effect of development motivation diminished and that of perceived test validity increased. The same pattern applied to students’ reported learning achievement. The motivational profiles behind each specific type of learning practice and their variational patterns across grades were also found to differ. Implications for both research and educational practice are discussed.</p

Biomimetic Tubular Matrix Induces Periodontal Ligament Principal Fiber Formation and Inhibits Osteogenic Differentiation of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells

Periodontal ligament (PDL) is assembled from highly organized collagen fiber bundles (PDL principal fibers) that are crucial in supporting teeth and buffering mechanical force. Therefore, regeneration of PDL needs to reconstruct these well-ordered fiber bundles to restore PDL functions. However, the formation of PDL principal fibers has long been a challenge due to the absence of an effective three-dimensional (3D) matrix to guide the growth of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and to inhibit the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs during the PDL principal fibers deposition. In this work, we designed and fabricated a bio-inspired tubular 3D matrix to guide the migration and growth of human PDLSCs and form well-aligned PDL principal fibers. As a biomimetic 3D template, the tubular matrix controlled PDLSCs migration inside the tubules and aligned the cells to the designated direction. Inside the tubular matrix, the PDLSCs expressed PDL markers and formed oriented fiber bundles with the same size and density as those of natural PDL principal fibers. Furthermore, the tubular matrix downregulated the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. A mechanism study revealed that the Yap1/Twist1 signaling pathway was involved in the inhibition of PDLSCs osteogenesis within the tubular matrix. This work provides an effective approach to induce PDLSCs to form principal fibers and gives insight into the underlying mechanism of inhibiting the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs in biomimetic tubular matrices

Si/TiSi₂ Heteronanostructures as High-Capacity Anode Material for Li Ion Batteries

We synthesized a unique heteronanostructure consisting of two-dimensional TiSi2 nanonets and particulate Si coating. The high conductivity and the structural integrity of the TiSi2 nanonet core were proven as great merits to permit reproducible Li+ insertion and extraction into and from the Si coating. This heteronanostructure was tested as the anode material for Li+ storage. At a charge/discharge rate of 8400 mA/g, we measured specific capacities >1000 mAh/g. Only an average of 0.1% capacity fade per cycle was observed between the 20th and the 100th cycles. The combined high capacity, long capacity life, and fast charge/discharge rate represent one of the best anode materials that have been reported. The remarkable performance was enabled by the capability to preserve the crystalline TiSi2 core during the charge/discharge process. This achievement demonstrates the potency of this novel heteronanostructure design as an electrode material for energy storage

E7-Conjugated Bio-Inspired Microspheres as a Biological Barrier for Guided Tissue Regeneration

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR), which is based on creating a physical barrier to prevent the downgrowth of epithelial and connective tissues into the defect site, has been widely used in clinical practice for periodontal regeneration for many years. However, its outcomes remain variable due to highly specific indications, the demand for proficient surgical skills, and frequent occurrence of complications. In this study, we developed a new GTR biomaterial that acts as a biological barrier for epithelial cells and fibroblasts while also serving as a scaffold for bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). This innovative GTR biomaterial is bioinspired injectable microspheres that are self-assembled from nanofibers, and their surfaces are conjugated with E7, a short peptide that selectively promotes BMSC and PDLSC adhesion but inhibits the attachment and spreading of epithelial cells and gingival fibroblasts. The selective affinity afforded by E7 on the surfaces of the nanofibrous microspheres facilitated the colonization of BMSCs in the periodontal defect, thereby substantially improving functional periodontal regeneration, as evidenced by enhanced new bone formation, reduced root exposure, and diminished attachment loss. The remarkable superiority of the bioinspired microspheres over conventional GTR materials in promoting periodontal regeneration underscores the potential of this innovative approach to enhance the efficacy of functional periodontal tissue regeneration

Delivering Multifunctional Peptide-Conjugated Gene Carrier/miRNA-218 Complexes from Monodisperse Microspheres for Bone Regeneration

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role in regulating gene expression and are considered new molecular targets in bone tissue engineering. However, effective delivery of miRNAs to the defect areas and transfection of the miRNAs into osteogenic progenitor cells has been an obstacle in the application. In this work, miRNA-218 (miR-218) was used as an osteogenic miRNA regulator, and a multifunctional peptide-conjugated gene carrier poly­(lactide-co-glycolide)-g-polyethylenimine-b-polyethylene glycol-R9-G4-IKVAVW (PPP-RGI) was developed to condense with miR-218 to form PPP-RGI/miR-218 complexes that were further encapsulated into monodisperse injectable microspheres for enhanced bone regeneration. The PPP-RGI was synthesized via conjugating R9-G4-IKVAVW (RGI), a multifunctional peptide, onto poly­(lactide-co-glycolide)-g-polyethylenimine-b-polyethylene glycol (PPP). A microfluidic and synchronous photo-cross-linking process was further developed to encapsulate the PPP-RGI/miR-218 complexes into monodisperse gelatin methacryloyl microspheres. The monodisperse microspheres controlled the delivery of PPP-RGI/miR-218 to the designated defect site, and PPP-RGI facilitated the transfection of miR-218 into osteogenic progenitor cells. An in vivo calvarial defect model showed that the PPP-RGI/miR-218-loaded microspheres significantly enhanced bone tissue regeneration. This work provides a novel approach to effectively deliver miRNA and transfect targeting cells in vivo for advanced regenerative therapies

Experimental Characterization of Diesel Combustion in an Electrically Preheated Porous Media Burner

A novel electric preheated porous media burner (PMB) of liquid fuel spray with three flame types is investigated experimentally. Liquid diesel (0#) is used in the burner to understand its combustion characteristics. The evolution of the flame characteristics in a single injection cycle is determined from the influence of the height of the foam ceramic on the spray characteristics and the stability of the preheating temperature. The influence of the air flow and the fuel injection on the temperature inside the burner is also investigated. The results show that a ceramic foam at a distance of 3 cm from the nozzle improves the combustion of the fuel spray. The critical preheating temperature for a successful combustion of the burner is 689 °C. The flame is composed of a small flame, a moving flame, and a filtering flame with corresponding moving speeds of approximately 0 mm/s, 0.1 mm/s, and 1 m/s. Our results prove the feasibility of continuous combustion of diesel in an electric preheated PMB and reveal the distribution of the temperatures within the burner

IBE891645 Supplemental Material - Supplemental material for An investigation of the cooling performance of air-conditioning systems in seven Chinese hub airport terminals

Supplemental material, IBE891645 Supplemental Material for An investigation of the cooling performance of air-conditioning systems in seven Chinese hub airport terminals by Xiaochen Liu, Xiaohua Liu, Tao Zhang and Lingshan Li in Indoor and Built Environment</p

Asymmetric Carbonyl-Ene Reaction Catalyzed by Chiral <i>N,N′</i>-Dioxide-Nickel(II) Complex: Remarkably Broad Substrate Scope

Asymmetric Carbonyl-Ene Reaction Catalyzed by Chiral N,N′-Dioxide-Nickel(II) Complex: Remarkably Broad Substrate Scop

Image5_Identification of Pathway-Based Biomarkers with Crosstalk Analysis for Overall Survival Risk Prediction in Breast Cancer.JPEG

Recently, many studies have investigated the role of gene-signature on the prognostic assessment of breast cancer (BC), however, the tumor heterogeneity and sequencing noise have limited the clinical usage of these models. Pathway-based approaches are more stable to the perturbation of certain gene expression. In this study, we constructed a prognostic classifier based on survival-related pathway crosstalk analysis. We estimated pathway’s deregulation scores (PDSs) for samples collected from public databases to select survival-related pathways. After pathway crosstalk analysis, we conducted K-means clustering analysis to cluster the patients into G1 and G2 subgroups. The survival outcome of the G2 subgroup was significantly worse than the G1 subgroup. Internal and external dataset exhibits high consistency with the training dataset. Significant differences were found between G2 and G1 subgroups on pathway activity, gene mutation, immune cell infiltration levels, and in particular immune cells/pathway’s activities were significantly negatively associated with BC patient’s outcomes. In conclusion, we established a novel classifier reflecting the overall survival risk of BC and successfully validated its clinical usage on multiple BC datasets, which could offer clinicians inspiration in formulating the clinical treatment plan.</p