Status and trend of development of the higher foreign language education research—based on the analysis of citespace visualization

This paper presents a scient metric analysis of status and trend of development of the higher foreign language education using Citespace based on the 2313 research articles from the Web of Science core collection between 2000 and 2023. Based on previous studies, this paper proposes assumptions and data verification. According to the keywords, citations and relevant information in the selected literatures, the research carried out clustering analysis, timeline view and citation bursts analysis. It is found that there is a phased focus in the study of higher foreign language education and no obvious evolutionary trend was found in the data results for the new picture of interdisciplinary has not yet been formed. Besides, the impact of innovative technologies will have more and more influence on higher foreign language education

Cloning and function analysis of a Saussurea involucrata LEA4 gene

Late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA) help adapt to adverse low-temperature environments. The Saussurea involucrate SiLEA4, which encodes a membrane protein, was significantly up-regulated in response to low temperature stress. Escherichia coli expressing SiLEA4 showed enhanced low-temperature tolerance, as evident from the significantly higher survival numbers and growth rates at low temperatures. Moreover, tomato strains expressing SiLEA4 had significantly greater freezing resistance, due to a significant increase in the antioxidase activities and proline content. Furthermore, they had higher yields due to higher water utilization and photosynthetic efficiency under the same water and fertilizer conditions. Thus, expressing SiLEA4 has multiple advantages: (1) mitigating chilling injury, (2) increasing yields, and (3) water-saving, which also indicates the great potential of the SiLEA4 for breeding applications

Characterization of two functional NKX3.1 binding sites upstream of the PCAN1 gene that are involved in the positive regulation of PCAN1 gene transcription

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>NKX3.1 </it>and <it>PCAN1 </it>are both prostate-specific genes related to prostate development and prostate cancer. So far, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of the expression of these two genes. In the present study, we found that NKX3.1 upregulated <it>PCAN1 </it>gene transcription in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. To understand the regulatory mechanisms, our work focused on identifying the functional NKX3.1 binding sites upstream of the <it>PCAN1 </it>gene, which might be involved in the positive regulation of <it>PCAN1 </it>expression by NKX3.1.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We cloned and characterized a 2.6 kb fragment upstream of the <it>PCAN1 </it>gene. Analysis of the 2.6 kb sequence with MatInspector 2.2 revealed five potential binding sites of NKX3.1 transcription factor. Luciferase reporter assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation and RNA interference were performed to study the effects of NKX3.1 on <it>PCAN1 </it>gene expression in prostate cancer cells. Our results showed that <it>PCAN1 </it>promoter activity and mRNA expression were increased by transfection with the <it>NKX3.1 </it>containing plasmid (pcDNA3.1-<it>NKX3.1</it>) and that <it>PCAN1 </it>mRNA expression was decreased by RNA interference targeting human <it>NKX3.1 </it>in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. The results of electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that NKX3.1 bound to NBS1 (-1848 to -1836) and NBS3 (-803 to -791) upstream of the <it>PCAN1 </it>gene. The luciferase reporter assays showed that NBS1 and NBS3 enhanced the promoter activity in pGL₃-promoter vector with cotransfection of the <it>NKX3.1 </it>containing plasmid. Furthermore, the deletion of NBS1 or both NBS1 and NBS3 reduced <it>PCAN1 </it>promoter activity and abolished the positive regulation of <it>PCAN1 </it>expression by NKX3.1.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggested that two functional NKX3.1 binding sites located at -1848 to -1836 and -803 to -791 upstream of the <it>PCAN1 </it>gene were involved in the positive regulation of <it>PCAN1 </it>gene transcription by NKX3.1.</p

Forced and unforced decadal behavior of the interhemispheric SST contrast during the instrumental period (1881–2012):contextualizing the abrupt shift around 1970

The sea surface temperature (SST) contrast between the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and Southern Hemisphere (SH) influences the location of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the intensity of the monsoon systems. This study examines the contributions of external forcing and unforced internal variability to the interhemispheric SST contrast in HadSST3 and ERSSTv5 observations, and 10 models from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) from 1881 to 2012. Using multimodel mean fingerprints, a significant influence of anthropogenic, but not natural, forcing is detected in the interhemispheric SST contrast, with the observed response larger than that of the model mean in ERSSTv5. The forced response consists of asymmetric NH–SH SST cooling from the mid-twentieth century to around 1980, followed by opposite NH–SH SST warming. The remaining best-estimate residual or unforced component is marked by NH–SH SST maxima in the 1930s and mid-1960s, and a rapid NH–SH SST decrease around 1970. Examination of decadal shifts in the observed interhemispheric SST contrast highlights the shift around 1970 as the most prominent from 1881 to 2012. Both NH and SH SST variability contributed to the shift, which appears not to be attributable to external forcings. Most models examined fail to capture such large-magnitude shifts in their control simulations, although some models with high interhemispheric SST variability are able to produce them. Large-magnitude shifts produced by the control simulations feature disparate spatial SST patterns, some of which are consistent with changes typically associated with the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC)

East Asian hydroclimate modulated by the position of the westerlies during Termination I.

Speleothem oxygen isotope records have revolutionized our understanding of the paleo East Asian monsoon, yet there is fundamental disagreement on what they represent in terms of the hydroclimate changes. We report a multiproxy speleothem record of monsoon evolution during the last deglaciation from the middle Yangtze region, which indicates a wetter central eastern China during North Atlantic cooling episodes, despite the oxygen isotopic record suggesting a weaker monsoon. We show that this apparent contradiction can be resolved if the changes are interpreted as a lengthening of the Meiyu rains and shortened post-Meiyu stage, in accordance with a recent hypothesis. Model simulations support this interpretation and further reveal the role of the westerlies in communicating the North Atlantic influence to the East Asian climate

The Effect of Dried Beancurd on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Chinese Women: A 2-Year Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract(#br)Soy foods contain several components such as isoflavones, calcium and protein that potentially modulate bone turnover and increase bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. The study is to evaluate the effect of dried beancurd supplementation on skeletal health in postmenopausal Chinese women. Three hundred postmenopausal women aged 50–65 years were assigned into two groups, receiving 100 g dried beancurd or rice cake a day for 2 years. BMD at the lumbar spine and right proximal femur were measured with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The bone turnover biomarkers of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone Gla protein (BGP) and urinary N-telopeptide cross-links of collagen normalized for creatinine (NTX/CRT) were also determined. Serum isoflavone concentration was..

The Effect of Dried Beancurd on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Chinese Women: A 2-Year Randomized Controlled Trial.

Soy foods contain several components such as isoflavones, calcium and protein that potentially modulate bone turnover and increase bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. The study is to evaluate the effect of dried beancurd supplementation on skeletal health in postmenopausal Chinese women. Three hundred postmenopausal women aged 50-65 years were assigned into two groups, receiving 100 g dried beancurd or rice cake a day for 2 years. BMD at the lumbar spine and right proximal femur were measured with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The bone turnover biomarkers of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone Gla protein (BGP) and urinary N-telopeptide cross-links of collagen normalized for creatinine (NTX/CRT) were also determined. Serum isoflavone concentration was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The 2-year dried beancurd supplementation generated a significant increase in lumbar spine BMD. An obvious decrease was found in urinary NTX/CRT, and a significant increase was detected in serum isoflavone concentration. The dried beancurd supplementation had no effect on changes of right proximal femur BMD and concentrations of serum ALP and BGP. Daily supplementation of dried beancurd could increase BMD of lumbar spine, but does not slow bone loss at right proximal femur in postmenopausal Chinese women

Plastic regulates its co-pyrolysis process with biomass: Influencing factors, model calculations, and mechanisms

Co-pyrolysis of plastics and biomass can effectively improve the quality of bio-oil and solve the problem of plastic pollution. However, synergistic effect of co-pyrolysis on kinetics and the role of biomass H/Ceff in co-pyrolysis are still not conclusive. In this work, the co-pyrolysis synergistic effects of three different hydrogen-to-carbon ratio (H/Ceff) of biomass-rice husk (RH), sugarcane bagasse (SUG), and poplar wood (PW) with hydrogen-rich polypropylene (PP) were studied using a thermogravimetric method. The total synergy degree (φ) and the difference between experimental and theoretical weight losses (ΔW) were defined, and the activation energies of various experimental materials were calculated by the isoconversional method. The results showed that the addition of PP reduced the dependence of product species on biomass H/Ceff during co-pyrolysis. The synergistic effect of biomass and PP was related to biomass types, pyrolysis temperature, and mass ratio of biomass to PP. The mixture of SUG and PP showed positive synergistic effect at all mass ratios. Simultaneously, at the low temperature of pyrolysis, the synergistic effect is inhibited in all mixtures, which might be due to the melting of PP. Kinetic analysis showed that the activation energy could be reduced by 11.14–31.78% by co-pyrolysis with biomass and PP. A multi-step mechanism was observed in both the pyrolysis of a single sample and the co-pyrolysis of a mixture, according to Criado’s schematic analysis

Cochlear Gene Therapy for Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Current Status and Major Remaining Hurdles for Translational Success

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) affects millions of people. Genetic mutations play a large and direct role in both congenital and late-onset cases of SNHL (e.g., age-dependent hearing loss, ADHL). Although hearing aids can help moderate to severe hearing loss the only effective treatment for deaf patients is the cochlear implant (CI). Gene- and cell-based therapies potentially may preserve or restore hearing with more natural sound perception, since their theoretical frequency resolution power is much higher than that of cochlear implants. These biologically-based interventions also carry the potential to re-establish hearing without the need for implanting any prosthetic device; the convenience and lower financial burden afforded by such biologically-based interventions could potentially benefit far more SNHL patients. Recently major progress has been achieved in preclinical studies of cochlear gene therapy. This review critically evaluates recent advances in the preclinical trials of gene therapies for SNHL and the major remaining challenges for the development and eventual clinical translation of this novel therapy. The cochlea bears many similarities to the eye for translational studies of gene therapies. Experience gained in ocular gene therapy trials, many of which have advanced to clinical phase III, may provide valuable guidance in improving the chance of success for cochlear gene therapy in human trials. A discussion on potential implications of translational knowledge gleaned from large numbers of advanced clinical trials of ocular gene therapy is therefore included