Susanna\u27s Way of Becoming Literate: A Case Study of Literacy Acquisition by a Young Girl from a Chinese Immigrant Family

Susanna, a young girl from a low-income Chinese immigrant family, develops her oral language proficiency quickly in Head Start and kindergarten; however, she needs more support in her reading and writing. This case study examines an unusual journey of Susanna\u27s learning to read and write in English. Observations in her home indicate a home with limited print, whereas Head Start and kindergarten provide not only print rich environment but also teachers\u27 and peers\u27 support so that she moves from an English language observer to an English language user. However, she still struggles with the use of decontextualized language. Susanna\u27s difficulties are explained from a social-cultural and psycholinguistic perspective. Instructional implications are drawn from the findings

Enhancing cutting tool sustainability based on remaining useful life prediction

As a critical part of machining, cutting tools are of great importance to sustainability enhancement. Normally, they are underused, resulting in huge waste. However, the lack of reliable support leads to a high risk on improving the cutting tool utilization. Aiming at this problem, this paper proposes an approach to enhance the cutting tool sustainability. A non-linear cutting tool remaining useful life prediction model is developed based on tool wear historical data. Probability distribution function and cumulative distribution function are used to quantize the uncertainty of the prediction. Under a constant machining condition, a cutting tool life is extended according to its specific remaining useful life prediction, rather than a unified one. Under various machining conditions, machining parameters are optimized to improve efficiency or capability. Cutting tool sustainability is assessed in economic, environmental and social dimensions. Experimental study verifies that both material removal rate and material removal volume are improved. Carbon emission and cutting tool cost are also reduced. The balance between benefit and risk is achieved by assigning a reasonable confidence level. Cutting tool sustainability can be enhanced by improving cutting tool utilization at controllable risk.©2020 Elsevier. This manuscript version is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY–NC–ND 4.0) license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Holistic analysis of lysine acetylation in aquaculture pathogenic bacteria Vibrio alginolyticus under bile salt stress

Lysine acetylation modification is a dynamic and reversible post-translational modification, which plays an important role in the metabolism and pathogenicity of pathogenic bacteria. Vibrio alginolyticus is a common pathogenic bacterium in aquaculture, and bile salt can trigger the expression of bacterial virulence. However, little is known about the function of lysine acetylation in V. alginolyticus under bile salt stress. In this study, 1,315 acetylated peptides on 689 proteins were identified in V. alginolyticus under bile salt stress by acetyl-lysine antibody enrichment and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Bioinformatics analysis found that the peptides motif ****A*Kac**** and *******Kac****A* were highly conserved, and protein lysine acetylation was involved in regulating various cellular biological processes and maintaining the normal life activities of bacteria, such as ribosome, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, two-component system, and bacterial secretion system. Further, 22 acetylated proteins were also found to be related to the virulence of V. alginolyticus under bile salt stress through secretion system, chemotaxis and motility, and adherence. Finally, comparing un-treated and treated with bile salt stress lysine acetylated proteins, it was found that there were 240 overlapping proteins, and found amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, beta-Lactam resistance, fatty acid degradation, carbon metabolism, and microbial metabolism in diverse environments pathways were significantly enriched in bile salt stress alone. In conclusion, this study is a holistic analysis of lysine acetylation in V. alginolyticus under bile salt stress, especially many virulence factors have also acetylated

Fetal and neonatal outcome in severe alloimmunization managed with intrauterine transfusion: 18-year experience in a tertiary referral hospital in China

BackgroundHemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) due to red cell alloimmunization, is an important cause of fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, fetal and neonatal outcome of HDFN managed with intrauterine transfusion (IUT) in China are unknown. In addition, fetal and neonatal outcomes according to the type of maternal red cell alloantibodies involved and outcomes of hydrops fetalis are also unclear.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate fetal and neonatal outcomes of severe red-cell alloimmunization treated by IUT, to compare the outcomes according to the type of antibody, and to investigate the perinatal and postnatal outcomes of hydrops fetalis due to red cell alloimmunization.MethodsA retrospective study of pregnancies affected by HDFN and managed with IUT at a tertiary care university hospital in China between January 2001 and December 2018 was performed. Fetal and neonatal outcomes were investigated, and comparison of outcomes depending on the type of antibody and comparison of outcome between hydrops fetalis and fetuses without hydrops were also conducted.Results244 IUTs were performed in 81 fetuses from 80 pregnancies. Anti-RhD was the major etiology of HDFN requiring IUT (71.6%). The fetal survival rate was 90.1%. The survival rate of the hydropic fetuses was significantly lower than those of the non hydropic fetuses (61.2% vs. 95.6%) (P = 0.002**). Compared with non hydropic fetuses, hydropic fetuses had significantly lower gestational age and lower hemoglobin level at first IUT. The neonatal survival rate was 98.6%. Exchange transfusions were required in 26% of the neonates. 30.1% of neonates had late anemia and required top-up transfusions, and hydropic fetuses required more late top-up transfusions than fetuses without hydrops. No significant difference in fetal and neonatal outcomes was found among the four subgroups stratified by the antibody involved.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that IUT is an effective and safe therapy for severe HDFN at our institution. Early detection and treatment of hydrops is critical for perinatal outcomes. Particular attention should be paid to late postnatal anemia in affected neonates and top-up transfusion is still commonly needed

Occurrence/nonoccurrence, distribution, and interpretation of zero anaphora in Chinese conversational discourse

This study investigates the occurrence/nonoccurrence, distribution, and interpretation of zero anaphora (ZA) in Chinese conversational discourse. It explores three major questions: (1) what factors account for the occurrence of ZA, and the nonoccurrence of ZA in potential positions; (2) whether there are differences in occurrence and nonoccurrence by genre and style; and (3) what linguistic research approaches are most appropriate for the analysis of ZA in Chinese. The database consists of complete dialogues from the two-hour Chinese film, Li, Shuang-shuang, and an uninterrupted one-hour recording of spontaneous conversations among three adult Chinese speakers. The analysis employs a taxonomy adapted from Halliday and Hasan (1976), and Givon's (1989) discourse measures, and involves investigation of linguistic (syntactic and semantic) and extralinguistic (social and cultural) variables, and linear versus hierarchical discourse structure. Difference levels between the scripted and spontaneous conversations were assessed using independent t-tests and chi-square tests. The study revealed the following major findings. First, knowledge sources, linguistic and/or extralinguistic, that were shared by the conversational participants formed the basis for the occurrence of ZA; in the absence of adequate shared knowledge, ZA could potentially be used to attract attention by inviting clarification questions from addressees. Second, overt referents in positions of potential ZA had the function of enhancing referent saliency by specific means including rhetorical, interactional, and stylistic devices. Third, there were great differences between conversational data from this study and narrative discourse from prior research in the proportion of syntactically shifted ZA and in referential distance. Fourth, referent continuity was not subject to linear factors in hierarchical discourse structure. There was a statistically significant difference between the planned and unplanned conversations in: (1) clause type and discourse context in terms of event boundary, role, and person; and (2) referential distance, potential interference, and referential persistence. The overall results of the study revealed the highly variable nature of the ZA phenomenon in Chinese, which suggests the need for multiple perspectives in the analysis of ZA in typologically similar languages, and questions the adequacy of the Government and Binding Theory account of Empty Categories as a universal explanation for ZA

Information Sharing Game and Value Analysis for the Following Enterprise Applications of Blockchain Technology

To address the question of whether small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should follow benchmark companies in establishing a blockchain-based information sharing platform, a two-tier supply chain decision-making problem dominated by retailers and containing two manufacturers of unequal status is analyzed, including the impact on the utility and social welfare of different game players in the supply chain and the supply chain as a whole, taking into account the fact that consumers are sensitive to both price and quality. For this purpose, traditional cooperation models, short-term and long-term models based on blockchain technology for information sharing were constructed and solved, respectively. The findings suggest that in the short term, the establishment of a blockchain technology-based information sharing platform will widen the status gap between manufacturers, making the strong stronger and the weak weaker, with retailers’ profits and social welfare suffering and no change in consumer surplus. In the long term, the quality improvement effect of information sharing will narrow the gap between manufacturers and increase members’ profits, with retailers and the entire supply chain experiencing a significant increase in profits after a short period of time, as well as an increase in consumer surplus and social welfare. In addition, when consumer price sensitivity and quality sensitivity are high, the establishment of a blockchain technology-based information sharing platform is beneficial for the stronger manufacturers, detrimental to the weaker manufacturers, and beneficial for the supply chain in the long term; otherwise, the absence of a blockchain technology-based information sharing platform is beneficial for the weaker manufacturers and the supply chain

Active Disturbance Rejection Control of Voice Coil Motor Active Suspension Based on Displacement Feedback

Electromagnetic active suspension is an important technique used in vehicles to improve ride comfort and handling stability. To achieve satisfactory suspension performance, the active suspension control requires strong robustness against the vehicle uncertainties and external disturbances. The voice coil motor (VCM) is applied to the active suspension. A suspension model considering the actuator is established. An active suspension controller based on the active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) method is proposed. Through the test platform built, it is demonstrated that the ADRC of VCM active suspension has better performance than the PID. The results indicate that the overshoot and adjustment time of ADRC controller is reduced by 80% and 50%, respectively. The body vertical displacement of the ADRC is 50% smaller than PID

Active Disturbance Rejection Control of Voice Coil Motor Active Suspension Based on Displacement Feedback

Electromagnetic active suspension is an important technique used in vehicles to improve ride comfort and handling stability. To achieve satisfactory suspension performance, the active suspension control requires strong robustness against the vehicle uncertainties and external disturbances. The voice coil motor (VCM) is applied to the active suspension. A suspension model considering the actuator is established. An active suspension controller based on the active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) method is proposed. Through the test platform built, it is demonstrated that the ADRC of VCM active suspension has better performance than the PID. The results indicate that the overshoot and adjustment time of ADRC controller is reduced by 80% and 50%, respectively. The body vertical displacement of the ADRC is 50% smaller than PID