15 research outputs found
A Case Study of Educational Equity in Saskatchewan Schools and Implications for Educational Development in China
This paper probes the phenomenon of underperforming indigenous students in Canada through a case study in the school district of Saskatchewan. It is discerned that the disparity between indigenous studentsâ home culture and the mainstream classroom culture is the major obstacle between indigenous students and academic success. Such a disparity is caused by a couple of reasons. First of all, educatorsâ misconception, along with education decision-makersâ ineffectiveness, leads to adversity for indigenous students to face in the classroom; secondly, biased evaluation and misjudgments in the current education system also result in indigenous studentsâ underperformance. Lastly, educatorsâ low cultural proficiency towards indigenous culture culminates in indigenous studentsâ low classroom engagement. The results of the case study could be enlightening for Chinese education decision-makers, given that the Chinese booming economy has caused millions of internal migrant workers to work in an alien subculture, their children could face similar social and linguistic debacles as compared to indigenous students in Saskatchewan
Continuous micro-current stimulation to upgrade methanolic wastewater biodegradation and biomethane recovery in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor
The dispersion of granules in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor represents a critical technical issue in methanolic wastewater treatment. In this study, the potentials of coupling a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) into an UASB reactor for improving methanolic wastewater biodegradation, long-term process stability and biomethane recovery were evaluated. The results indicated that coupling a MEC system was capable of improving the overall performance of UASB reactor for methanolic wastewater treatment. The combined system maintained the comparatively higher methane yield and COD removal efficiency over the single UASB process through the entire process, with the methane production at the steady-state conditions approaching 1504.7 ± 92.2 mL-CH4 Lâ1-reactor dâ1, around 10.1% higher than the control UASB (i.e. 1366.4 ± 71.0 mL-CH4 Lâ1-reactor dâ1). The further characterizations verified that the input of external power source could stimulate the metabolic activity of microbes and reinforced the EPS secretion. The produced EPS interacted with Fe2+/3+ liberated during anodic corrosion of iron electrode to create a gel-like three-dimensional [-Fe-EPS-]n matrix, which promoted cell-cell cohesion and maintained the structural integrity of granules. Further observations via SEM and FISH analysis demonstrated that the use of bioelectrochemical stimulation promoted the growth and proliferation of microorganisms, which diversified the degradation routes of methanol, convert the wasted CO2 into methane and accordingly increased the process stability and methane productivity
Simultaneous arthroscopic cystectomy and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for the management of partial knee osteoarthritis with a popliteal cyst: A case report
IntroductionPopliteal cysts are secondary to degenerative changes in the knee joint. After total knee arthroplasty (TKA), 56.7% of patients with popliteal cysts at 4.9 years follow-up remained symptomatic in the popliteal area. However, the result of simultaneous arthroscopic cystectomy and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) was uncertain.Case presentationA 57-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with severe pain and swelling in his left knee and the popliteal area. He was diagnosed with severe medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with a symptomatic popliteal cyst. Subsequently, arthroscopic cystectomy and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) were performed simultaneously. A month after the operation, he returned to his normal life. There was no progression in the lateral compartment of the left knee and no recurrence of the popliteal cyst at the 1-year follow-up.ConclusionFor KOA patients with a popliteal cyst seeking UKA, simultaneous arthroscopic cystectomy and UKA are feasible with great success if managed appropriately
ERK Inhibition Promotes Engraftment of Allografts by Reprogramming TâCell Metabolism
Abstract Extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signaling is a master regulator of cell behavior, life, and fate. Although ERK pathway is shown to be involved in Tâcell activation, little is known about its role in the development of allograft rejection. Here, it is reported that ERK signaling pathway is activated in allograftâinfiltrating T cells. On the basis of surface plasmon resonance technology, lycorine is identified as an ERKâspecific inhibitor. ERK inhibition by lycorine significantly prolongs allograft survival in a stringent mouse cardiac allotransplant model. As compared to untreated mice, lycorineâtreated mice show a decrease in the number and activation of allograftâinfiltrated T cells. It is further confirmed that lycorineâtreated mouse and human T cells are less responsive to stimulation in vitro, as indicated by their low proliferative rates and decreased cytokine production. Mechanistic studies reveal that T cells treated with lycorine exhibit mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in metabolic reprogramming upon stimulation. Transcriptome analysis of lycorineâtreated T cells reveals an enrichment in a series of downregulated terms related to immune response, the mitogenâactivated protein kinase cascade, and metabolic processes. These findings offer new insights into the development of immunosuppressive agents by targeting the ERK pathway involved in Tâcell activation and allograft rejection
Valproic acid exhibits anti-tumor activity selectively against EGFR/ErbB2/ErbB3-coexpressing pancreatic cancer via induction of ErbB family members-targeting microRNAs
Abstract Background Deregulated ErbB signaling plays an important role in tumorigenesis of pancreatic cancer. However, patients with pancreatic cancer benefit little from current existed therapies targeting the ErbB signaling. Here, we explore the potential anti-tumor activity of Valproic acid against pancreatic cancer via targeting ErbB family members. Methods Cell viability assay and apoptosis evaluation were carried out to determine the efficacy of VPA on pancreatic cancer cells. Western blot analyses were performed to determine the expression and activation of proteins. Apoptosis enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify cytoplasmic histone associated DNA fragments. Lentiviral expression system was used to introduce overexpression of exogeneous genes or gene-targeting short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs). qRT-PCR was carried out to analyze the mRNAs and miRNAs expression levels. Tumor xenograft model was established to evaluate the in vivo anti-pancreatic cancer activity of VPA. Results VPA preferentially inhibited cell proliferation/survival of, and induced apoptosis in EGFR/ErbB2/ErbB3-coexpressing pancreatic cancer cells within its clinically achievable range [40~100âmg/L (0.24~0.6âmmol/L)]. Mechanistic investigations revealed that VPA treatment resulted in simultaneous significant down-regulation of EGFR, ErbB2, and ErbB3 in pancreatic cancer cells likely via induction of ErbB family members-targeting microRNAs. Moreover, the anti-pancreatic cancer activity of VPA was further validated in tumor xenograft model. Conclusions Our data strongly suggest that VPA may be added to the treatment regimens for pancreatic cancer patients with co-overexpression of the ErbB family members