Identifying Self-Regulation Strategies Students Use When Cognitive Load Occurs

When the amount of information to process exceeds students’ capacity to do so, that indicates a problem in the learning environment that will hinder students’ successful learning. This study found that students use a variety of strategies to help them manage their own learning when they felt overwhelmed by the amount of information they needed to process. Further, these strategies differed from those typically expected of students when they are not overwhelmed

Genetic Evaluation of Starch Synthesis-Related Genes and Starch Quality Traits in Special Rice Resources

The genetic diversity of 36 rice landraces and 43 breeding materials in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China was studied by intragenic molecular markers of 26 starch synthesis-related loci. And research on quality traits such as the amylose content (AC), gel consistency (GC) and alkali spreading value (ASV) to analyze genetic differences in quality traits. The results showed that the number of alleles, average gene diversity and polymorphism information content values of landraces were higher than those of breeding materials. The genetic similarity coefficient (GS) of 79 rice materials ranged from 0.392 to 1, with an average of 0.757.There were significant variations in the quality traits of rice landraces and breeding materials, and the high-quality compliance rates were low, only 6.3% of the varieties have an amylose content that reached grade 1. The results of cluster analysis and population structure analysis are generally consistent; that is, the two resource types are closely related and cannot be clustered independently. This study can provide a basis for genetic improvement of rice starch quality. Make full use of the quality genetic diversity of landraces in modern breeding work, further broaden the genetic base of rice and improve rice quality

Construction and validation of a predictive risk model for nosocomial infections with MDRO in NICUs: a multicenter observational study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to construct and validate a predictive risk model (PRM) for nosocomial infections with multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), in order to provide a scientific and reliable prediction tool, and to provide reference for clinical prevention and control of MDRO infections in NICUs.MethodsThis multicenter observational study was conducted at NICUs of two tertiary children’s hospitals in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Using cluster sampling, eligible neonates admitted to NICUs of research hospitals from January 2018 to December 2020 (modeling group) or from July 2021 to June 2022 (validation group) were included in this study. Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were used to construct the PRM. H-L tests, calibration curves, ROC curves and decision curve analysis were used to validate the PRM.ResultsFour hundred and thirty-five and one hundred fourteen neonates were enrolled in the modeling group and validation group, including 89 and 17 neonates infected with MDRO, respectively. Four independent risk factors were obtained and the PRM was constructed, namely: P = 1/ (1+ e−X), X = −4.126 + 1.089× (low birth weight) +1.435× (maternal age ≥ 35 years) +1.498× (use of antibiotics >7 days) + 0.790× (MDRO colonization). A nomogram was drawn to visualize the PRM. Through internal and external validation, the PRM had good fitting degree, calibration, discrimination and certain clinical validity. The prediction accuracy of the PRM was 77.19%.ConclusionPrevention and control strategies for each independent risk factor can be developed in NICUs. Moreover, clinical staff can use the PRM to early identification of neonates at high risk, and do targeted prevention to reduce MDRO infections in NICUs

Tirofiban for Stroke without Large or Medium-Sized Vessel Occlusion

The effects of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor tirofiban in patients with acute ischemic stroke but who have no evidence of complete occlusion of large or medium-sized vessels have not been extensively studied. In a multicenter trial in China, we enrolled patients with ischemic stroke without occlusion of large or medium-sized vessels and with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 5 or more and at least one moderately to severely weak limb. Eligible patients had any of four clinical presentations: ineligible for thrombolysis or thrombectomy and within 24 hours after the patient was last known to be well; progression of stroke symptoms 24 to 96 hours after onset; early neurologic deterioration after thrombolysis; or thrombolysis with no improvement at 4 to 24 hours. Patients were assigned to receive intravenous tirofiban (plus oral placebo) or oral aspirin (100 mg per day, plus intravenous placebo) for 2 days; all patients then received oral aspirin until day 90. The primary efficacy end point was an excellent outcome, defined as a score of 0 or 1 on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) at 90 days. Secondary end points included functional independence at 90 days and a quality-of-life score. The primary safety end points were death and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. A total of 606 patients were assigned to the tirofiban group and 571 to the aspirin group. Most patients had small infarctions that were presumed to be atherosclerotic. The percentage of patients with a score of 0 or 1 on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days was 29.1% with tirofiban and 22.2% with aspirin (adjusted risk ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.53, P = 0.02). Results for secondary end points were generally not consistent with the results of the primary analysis. Mortality was similar in the two groups. The incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was 1.0% in the tirofiban group and 0% in the aspirin group. In this trial involving heterogeneous groups of patients with stroke of recent onset or progression of stroke symptoms and nonoccluded large and medium-sized cerebral vessels, intravenous tirofiban was associated with a greater likelihood of an excellent outcome than low-dose aspirin. Incidences of intracranial hemorrhages were low but slightly higher with tirofiban

Methylprednisolone as Adjunct to Endovascular Thrombectomy for Large-Vessel Occlusion Stroke

Importance It is uncertain whether intravenous methylprednisolone improves outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion (LVO) undergoing endovascular thrombectomy. Objective To assess the efficacy and adverse events of adjunctive intravenous low-dose methylprednisolone to endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke secondary to LVO. Design, Setting, and Participants This investigator-initiated, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was implemented at 82 hospitals in China, enrolling 1680 patients with stroke and proximal intracranial LVO presenting within 24 hours of time last known to be well. Recruitment took place between February 9, 2022, and June 30, 2023, with a final follow-up on September 30, 2023.InterventionsEligible patients were randomly assigned to intravenous methylprednisolone (n = 839) at 2 mg/kg/d or placebo (n = 841) for 3 days adjunctive to endovascular thrombectomy. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary efficacy outcome was disability level at 90 days as measured by the overall distribution of the modified Rankin Scale scores (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]). The primary safety outcomes included mortality at 90 days and the incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 48 hours. Results Among 1680 patients randomized (median age, 69 years; 727 female [43.3%]), 1673 (99.6%) completed the trial. The median 90-day modified Rankin Scale score was 3 (IQR, 1-5) in the methylprednisolone group vs 3 (IQR, 1-6) in the placebo group (adjusted generalized odds ratio for a lower level of disability, 1.10 [95% CI, 0.96-1.25]; P = .17). In the methylprednisolone group, there was a lower mortality rate (23.2% vs 28.5%; adjusted risk ratio, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.71-0.98]; P = .03) and a lower rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (8.6% vs 11.7%; adjusted risk ratio, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.55-0.99]; P = .04) compared with placebo. Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with acute ischemic stroke due to LVO undergoing endovascular thrombectomy, adjunctive methylprednisolone added to endovascular thrombectomy did not significantly improve the degree of overall disability.Trial RegistrationChiCTR.org.cn Identifier: ChiCTR210005172

Global Metabolomics of Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) Explore Metabolic Adaptation to Fresh Water in Insects

Aquatic insects are well-adapted to freshwater environments, but metabolic mechanisms of such adaptations, particularly to primary environmental factors (e.g., hypoxia, water pressure, dark light, and abundant microbes), are poorly known. Most firefly species (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are terrestrial, but the larvae of a few species are aquatic. We generated 24 global metabolomic profiles of larvae and adults of Aquatica leii (freshwater) and Lychnuris praetexta (terrestrial) to identify freshwater adaptation-related metabolites (AARMs). We identified 110 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) in A. leii (adults vs. aquatic larvae) and 183 DAMs in L. praetexta (adults vs. terrestrial larvae). Furthermore, 100 DAMs specific to aquatic A. leii larvae were screened as AARMs via interspecific comparisons (A. leii vs. L. praetexta), which were primarily involved in antioxidant activity, immune response, energy production and metabolism, and chitin biosynthesis. They were assigned to six categories/superclasses (e.g., lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, and organoheterocyclic compound). Finally, ten metabolic pathways shared between KEGG terms specific to aquatic fireflies and enriched by AARMs were screened as aquatic adaptation-related pathways (AARPs). These AARPs were primarily involved in energy metabolism, xenobiotic biodegradation, protection of oxidative/immune damage, oxidative stress response, and sense function (e.g., glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, and taste transduction), and certain aspects of morphology (e.g., steroid hormone biosynthesis). These results provide evidence suggesting that abundance changes in metabolomes contribute to freshwater adaptation of fireflies. The metabolites identified here may be vital targets for future work to determine the mechanism of freshwater adaptation in insects

Effect of Lifting Gas Diffusion on the Station-Keeping Performance of a Near-Space Aerostat

During the long-endurance flight of a near-space aerostat, the characteristics of lifting gas diffusion have a great influence on the flight altitude adjustment and station-keeping performance. Thus, in this study, a lifting gas diffusion model and a dynamic model that consider thermal effects, which had not been studied in similar models before, were developed. The dynamic model and thermal model were validated by historic flight data, and the calculated lifting gas diffusion results were compared with the experimental data of other researchers. The variations in the flight endurance, flight altitude, lifting gas diffusion rate, and diffusion coefficient of a near-space aerostat were analyzed. The effects of the ratio of porosity to tortuosity and envelope radiation properties on the mass of the lifting gas and flight altitude were considered in detail. To analyze the effect mechanism of the ratio of porosity to tortuosity and the envelope radiation properties, the envelope and gas temperature, as well as the gas pressure, were studied. The results show that the lifting gas diffusion rate and diffusion coefficient are very sensitive to the change in the ratio of porosity to tortuosity and envelope temperature. The results obtained from the analysis of the lifting gas diffusion can lay a solid foundation for improving the flight performance of near-space aerostats and for providing improved design considerations for aerostats

Effect of Lifting Gas Diffusion on the Station-Keeping Performance of a Near-Space Aerostat

During the long-endurance flight of a near-space aerostat, the characteristics of lifting gas diffusion have a great influence on the flight altitude adjustment and station-keeping performance. Thus, in this study, a lifting gas diffusion model and a dynamic model that consider thermal effects, which had not been studied in similar models before, were developed. The dynamic model and thermal model were validated by historic flight data, and the calculated lifting gas diffusion results were compared with the experimental data of other researchers. The variations in the flight endurance, flight altitude, lifting gas diffusion rate, and diffusion coefficient of a near-space aerostat were analyzed. The effects of the ratio of porosity to tortuosity and envelope radiation properties on the mass of the lifting gas and flight altitude were considered in detail. To analyze the effect mechanism of the ratio of porosity to tortuosity and the envelope radiation properties, the envelope and gas temperature, as well as the gas pressure, were studied. The results show that the lifting gas diffusion rate and diffusion coefficient are very sensitive to the change in the ratio of porosity to tortuosity and envelope temperature. The results obtained from the analysis of the lifting gas diffusion can lay a solid foundation for improving the flight performance of near-space aerostats and for providing improved design considerations for aerostats

Diminished α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) rescues amyloid-β induced atrial remodeling by oxi-CaMKII/MAPK/AP-1 axis-mediated mitochondrial oxidative stress

The potential coexistence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly common as aging-related diseases. However, little is known about mechanisms responsible for atrial remodeling in AD pathogenesis. α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) has been shown to have profound effects on mitochondrial oxidative stress in both organ diseases. Here, we investigate the role of α7nAChR in mediating the effects of amyloid-β (Aβ) in cultured mouse atrial cardiomyocytes (HL-1 cells) and AD model mice (APP/PS1). In vitro, apoptosis, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by Aβ long-term (72h) in HL-1 cells were prevented by α-Bungarotoxin(α-BTX), an antagonist of α7nAChR. This cardioprotective effect was due to reinstating Ca2+ mishandling by decreasing the activation of CaMKII and MAPK signaling pathway, especially the oxidation of CaMKII (oxi-CaMKII). In vivo studies demonstrated that targeting knockdown of α7nAChR in cardiomyocytes could ameliorate AF progression in late-stage (12 months) APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, α7nAChR deficiency in cardiomyocytes attenuated APP/PS1-mutant induced atrial remodeling characterized by reducing fibrosis, atrial dilation, conduction dysfunction, and inflammatory mediator activities via suppressing oxi-CaMKII/MAPK/AP-1. Taken together, our findings suggest that diminished α7nAChR could rescue Aβ-induced atrial remodeling through oxi-CaMKII/MAPK/AP-1-mediated mitochondrial oxidative stress in atrial cells and AD mice