Integrating Chinese Culture into English Textbooks for EFL teachers in Lesson Plans

In recent years, second language teaching in China, especially English teaching, has developed rapidly, making significant progress, and training a large number of outstanding non- native English speakers. However, Chinese cultural knowledge and its English expressions are neglected, resulting in learners\u27 weak ability to express Chinese culture by using their second language. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the integration of Chinese culture in English teaching materials and improve China ’s second language education. This project first analyzes the current situation of weak cross-cultural communication competence of English learners in China, then explains the reasons cause for this phenomenon, and finally proposes effective strategies to eliminate this phenomenon, such as the importance of integrating Chinese cultural knowledge in the English textbooks. This project also includes a sample textbook that shows how to combine Chinese culture and English in the form of lesson plans, involves traditional Chinese festivals, places of interest, legends, and history. To help high-intermediate level to advanced level English learners improve their second language skills and cross-cultural knowledge

The Unique Cost of Human Eye Gaze in Cognitive Control: Being Human-Specific and Body-Related?

This study investigated the eye gaze cost in cognitive control and whether it is human-specific and body-related. In Experiment 1, we explored whether there was a cost of human eye gaze in cognitive control and extended it by focusing on the role of emotion in the cost. Stroop effect was found to be larger in eye-gaze condition than vertical grating condition, and to be comparable across positive, negative, and neutral trials. In Experiment 2, we explored whether the eye gaze cost in cognitive control was limited to human eyes. No larger Stroop effect was found in feline eye-gaze condition, neither the modulating role of emotion. In Experiment 3, we explored whether the mouth could elicit a cost in Stroop effect. Stroop effect was not significantly larger in mouth condition compared to vertical grating condition, nor across positive, negative, and neutral conditions. The results suggest that: (1) There is a robust cost of eye gaze in cognitive control; (2) Such eye-gaze cost was specific to human eyes but not to animal eyes; (3) Only human eyes could have such eye-gaze costs but not human mouth. This study supported the notion that presentation of social cues, such as human eyes, could influence attentional processing, and provided preliminary evidence that the human eye plays an important role in cognitive processing

Multidimensional study of cell division cycle-associated proteins with prognostic value in gastric carcinoma

Gastric cancer (GC) represents a widespread malignancy with a poor prognosis. Hence, discovering reliable biomarkers is necessary. The cell division cycle-associated protein (CDCA) family, comprising CDCA1–8, plays a key role in tumor progression. However, whether CDCA expression has prognostic value in GC, especially stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD), has not been elucidated yet. Consequently, we conducted a multifaceted study using bioinformatic tools aimed at exploring CDCA expression levels and appraising their potential prognostic values in patients with STAD. All eight CDCAs were significantly upregulated in STAD tissues compared with healthy tissues. Elevated CDCA4/7/8 mRNA expression predicted a short overall survival, and increased CDCA7 transcriptional levels predicted a short disease-free survival. The most frequent alteration in patients with STAD was low mRNA expression. The functional enrichment analysis incorporating the gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways showed that the cell cycle, foxO signaling pathway, and Epstein–Barr virus were relevant to the main functions of CDCAs. Finally, the immune infiltration analysis revealed a significant correlation between CDCA expression and the infiltration extent of six immunocytes. Therefore, differentially expressed CDCAs may represent potential biomarkers for the prognosis of patients with STAD that can improve survival. Furthermore, this study might offer new ideas for the design and development of immunotherapeutic drugs

Gas Phase Measurements of Mono-Fluoro-Benzoic Acids and the Dimer of 3-Fluoro-Benzoic Acid

The microwave spectrum of the mono-fluoro-benzoic acids, 2-fluoro-, 3-fluoro-, and 4-fluoro-benzoic acid have been measured in the frequency range of 4-14 GHz using a pulsed beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. Measured rotational transition lines were assigned and fit using a rigid rotor Hamiltonian. Assignments were made for 3 conformers of 2-fluorobenzoic acid, 2 conformers of 3-fluorobenzoic acid, and 1 conformer of 4-fluorobenzoic acid. Additionally, the gas phase homodimer of 3-fluorobenzoic acid was detected, and the spectra showed evidence of proton tunneling. Experimental rotational constants are A(0+) = 1151.8(5), B(0+) = 100.3(5), C(0+) = 87.64(3) MHz and A(0−) = 1152.2(5), B(0−) = 100.7(5), C(0−) = 88.85(3) MHz for the two ground vibrational states split by the proton tunneling motion. The tunneling splitting (ΔE) is approximately 560 MHz. This homodimer appears to be the largest carboxylic acid dimer observed with F-T microwave spectroscopy

Research Progress on the Correlation between Different Dietary Patterns and Hyperuricemia Mediated by Intestinal Flora

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a purine metabolism disorder caused by the imbalance between uric acid production and excretion, which, when severe, can lead to gout and renal function damage. At present, the prevalence of HUA/gout is increasing yearly in China and the HUA/gout patients are becoming younger and younger. Recent studies have shown that the intestinal flora of patients with HUA/gout is imbalanced when compared with that of healthy people, and different dietary patterns can affect the level of uric acid by adjusting the intestinal flora. This paper elaborates on the characteristics of the intestinal flora in patients with HUA/gout and the effect of the intestinal flora on uric acid metabolism, which will lay a theoretical foundation for the prevention, early diagnosis and auxiliary treatment of HUA/gout. This paper also summarizes recent progress in understanding the impact of different dietary patterns on uric acid levels in order to guide patients to effectively prevent and delay the occurrence of HUA/gout by adjusting their dietary patterns

Malat1 regulates PMN-MDSC expansion and immunosuppression through p-STAT3 ubiquitination in sepsis

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) expand during sepsis and contribute to the development of persistent inflammation-immunosuppression-catabolism syndrome. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Exploring the mechanisms of MDSCs generation may provide therapeutic targets for improving immune status in sepsis. Here, a sepsis mouse model is established by cecal ligation and perforation. Bone marrow cells at different sepsis time points are harvested to detect the proportion of MDSCs and search for differentially expressed genes by RNA-sequence. In lethal models of sepsis, polymorphonuclear-MDSCs (PMN-MDSCs) decrease in early but increase and become activated in late sepsis, which is contrary to the expression of metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (Malat1). In vivo, Malat1 inhibitor significantly increases the mortality in mice with late sepsis. And in vitro, Malat1 down-regulation increases the proportion of PMN-MDSCs and enhanced its immunosuppressive ability. Mechanistically, Malat1 limits the differentiation of PMN-MDSCs by accelerating the degradation of phosphorylated STAT3. Furthermore, Stattic, an inhibitor of STAT3 phosphorylation, improves the survival of septic mice by inhibiting PMN-MDSCs. Overall, the study identifies a novel insight into the mechanism of sepsis-induced MDSCs and provides more evidence for targeting MDSCs in the treatment of sepsis

Use of gene therapy for optic nerve protection: Current concepts

Gene therapy has become an essential treatment for optic nerve injury (ONI) in recent years, and great strides have been made using animal models. ONI, which is characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and axons, can induce abnormalities in the pupil light reflex, visual field defects, and even vision loss. The eye is a natural organ to target with gene therapy because of its high accessibility and certain immune privilege. As such, numerous gene therapy trials are underway for treating eye diseases such as glaucoma. The aim of this review was to cover research progress made in gene therapy for ONI. Specifically, we focus on the potential of gene therapy to prevent the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and protect both RGCs and axons. We cover the basic information of gene therapy, including the classification of gene therapy, especially focusing on genome editing therapy, and then we introduce common editing tools and vector tools such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) -Cas9 and adeno-associated virus (AAV). We also summarize the progress made on understanding the roles of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), phosphatase-tensin homolog (PTEN), suppressor of cytokine signal transduction 3 (SOCS3), histone acetyltransferases (HATs), and other important molecules in optic nerve protection. However, gene therapy still has many challenges, such as misalignment and mutations, immunogenicity of AAV, time it takes and economic cost involved, which means that these issues need to be addressed before clinical trials can be considered

Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in 157 patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: real-world evidence from a single-center retrospective study

BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have changed the therapeutic options for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). In this real-world study, we analyzed the treatment patterns in patients with ES-SCLC and evaluated the efficacy of chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy as first-line therapy.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on patients with ES-SCLC who received treatment at China-Japan Friendship Hospital (Beijing, China) between August 1, 2020, and April 30, 2023. The treatment patterns appeared in the form of Sunburst Chart and Sankey diagram. The survival analyses were conducted by Kaplan-Meier curves.ResultsA total of 157 patients with ES-SCLC were retrospectively included. According to first-line therapy, patients were divided into the chemotherapy (CT) group (n=82) and chemo-immunotherapy (CIT) group (n=75). The median treatment lines were 2[1, 2] and cycles were 8[5, 12], respectively. 82 patients received the second line of therapy, followed by 37 for the third, 15 for the fourth, 11 for the fifth, and 5 for the sixth. Overall, the treatment patterns involved 11 options including 12 chemotherapy regimens, 11 ICIs, and 4 targeted agents. The second-line treatment pattern had the most options (9) and regimens (43). In the first 3 lines, chemotherapy was the largest proportion of treatment options. The addition of ICIs prolonged progression-free survival from 6.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.00-7.87) to 7.33 (95% CI, 6.03-9.80) months (hazard ratio [HR]=0.67, 95% CI, 0.47-0.95; P=0.025), overall survival from 12.97 (10.90-23.3) to 14.33 (12.67-NA) months without statistically significant difference (HR=0.86, 95% CI, 0.55-1.34; P=0.505).ConclusionThe treatment options of patients with ES-SCLC are more diversified. Combination therapy is the current trend, where chemotherapy is the cornerstone. Meanwhile, ICIs participate in almost all lines of treatment. However, the clinical efficacy remains barely satisfactory. We are urgently expecting more breakthrough therapies except immunology will be applied in the clinic