Actualizing the affordance of mobile technology for classroom orchestration: A main path analysis of mobile learning

Ubiquitous and increasingly accessible, mobile technology enhanced learning in the learning process, referred to as classroom orchestration, is inspiring an increasing number of studies that examines mobile learning from various perspectives. Nonetheless, educators find themselves confronted by the ever-evolving features of mobile technology and challenges in implementation context. This study, therefore, surveys the research literature on mobile learning using main path analysis, and cites affordance actualization by Strong (Strong et al. 2014) as a theoretical lens to identify the research themes from results found in main paths, to develop a “mobile learning actualization” framework. This particular framework integrates several research themes, ranging from system features, educator and learner, the goal of mobile technology adoption, contextual implementation, to the outcome of mobile learning. These insights have proven constructive for educators to adapt mobile technology to a learning environment, thus successfully achieving classroom orchestration

A group decision support system for the Asian Pacific rim

The vast majority of research on Group Decision Support Systems (GDSSs) has been conducted on American groups using English. However, other nationalities using other languages may also benefit from this new technology. The GDSS developed at the University of Mississippi supports over a dozen languages including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Malay which are particularly relevant to organizations on the Asian Pacific rim. Three pilot studies of Japanese, Chinese, and Malaysian students using the GDSS demonstrate that these groups can benefit from the technology

Clinical Manifestations Vary with Different Age Spectrums in Infants with Kawasaki Disease

Background. Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis with unknown etiology. The diagnosis of KD depends on clinical manifestations. The prevalence of coronary artery abnormality (CAA) is 11.0% and results in cardiac sequelae, such as myocardial infarction or coronary aneurysm, which are the most serious complications in KD. Methods. We divided KD's children into different age groups: ≤6 months old, 7 months to 1 year old, and >1 year old, respectively. Different parameters were compared in each group. Results. Infants ≤6 months old are less likely to fulfill KD's major diagnostic criteria within 10 days, are prone to develop incomplete KD with the lowest cholesterol level, and have the greatest chance to have CAA and the laboratory features associated with CAA, such as the longest time needed to confirm CA diagnosis, lower hemoglobin level, lower albumin level, and higher platelet count. Infants <1 year old develop higher percentage of leukocytosis and sterile pyuria. But this group has fewer patients with neck lymphadenopathy

m6A mRNA demethylase FTO regulates melanoma tumorigenicity and response to anti-PD-1 blockade

Melanoma is one of the most deadly and therapy-resistant cancers. Here we show that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA demethylation by fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) increases melanoma growth and decreases response to anti-PD-1 blockade immunotherapy. FTO level is increased in human melanoma and enhances melanoma tumorigenesis in mice. FTO is induced by metabolic starvation stress through the autophagy and NF-κB pathway. Knockdown of FTO increases m6A methylation in the critical protumorigenic melanoma cell-intrinsic genes including PD-1 (PDCD1), CXCR4, and SOX10, leading to increased RNA decay through the m6A reader YTHDF2. Knockdown of FTO sensitizes melanoma cells to interferon gamma (IFNγ) and sensitizes melanoma to anti-PD-1 treatment in mice, depending on adaptive immunity. Our findings demonstrate a crucial role of FTO as an m6A demethylase in promoting melanoma tumorigenesis and anti-PD-1 resistance, and suggest that the combination of FTO inhibition with anti-PD-1 blockade may reduce the resistance to immunotherapy in melanoma. © 2019, The Author(s)

A General Phase Matching Condition for Quantum Searching Algorithm

A general consideration on the phase rotations in quantum searching algorithm is taken in this work. As four phase rotations on the initial state, the marked states, and the states orthogonal to them are taken account, we deduce a phase matching condition for a successful search. The optimal options for these phase are obtained consequently.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Hypokalemia, Its Contributing Factors and Renal Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: In the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population, the impact of serum potassium (sK) on renal outcomes has been controversial. Moreover, the reasons for the potential prognostic value of hypokalemia have not been elucidated. Design, Participants & Measurements 2500 participants with CKD stage 1–4 in the Integrated CKD care program Kaohsiung for delaying Dialysis (ICKD) prospective observational study were analyzed and followed up for 2.7 years. Generalized additive model was fitted to determine the cutpoints and the U-shape association between sK and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). sK was classified into five groups with the cutpoints of 3.5, 4, 4.5 and 5 mEq/L. Cox proportional hazard regression models predicting the outcomes were used. Results: The mean age was 62.4 years, mean sK level was 4.2±0.5 mEq/L and average eGFR was 40.6 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Female vs male, diuretic use vs. non-use, hypertension, higher eGFR, bicarbonate, CRP and hemoglobin levels significantly correlated with hypokalemia. In patients with lower sK, nephrotic range proteinuria, and hypoalbuminemia were more prevalent but the use of RAS (renin-angiotensin system) inhibitors was less frequent. Hypokalemia was significantly associated with ESRD with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.82 (95% CI, 1.03–3.22) in sK 5 mEq/L conferred 1.6-fold (95% CI,1.09–2.34) increased risk of ESRD compared with sK = 4.5–5 mEq/L. Hypokalemia was also associated with rapid decline of renal function defined as eGFR slope below 20% of the distribution range. Conclusion: In conclusion, both hypokalemia and hyperkalemia are associated with increased risk of ESRD in CKD population. Hypokalemia is related to increased use of diuretics, decreased use of RAS blockade and malnutrition, all of which may impose additive deleterious effects on renal outcomes