97 research outputs found
Online Learning in Vocational Education of China during COVID-19: Achievements, Challenges, and Future Developments
COVID-19 has challenged education systems globally. Traditional teaching and learning activities of more than 1,300 vocational colleges and nearly 11,000 vocational high schools in China have had to be paused and transformed into an online mode. A study had been conducted to trace the unprecedented change which would provide reflections on policies and practical experience worthy of reference for the follow-up development of online vocational education in China and other countries in the world. The study used two methods to collect data: (1) delivering questionnaires to 767 schools, 17009 teachers, 270,732 students, and (2) gathering 110 institute cases from 21 provinces and 170 curriculum cases from 14 provinces. The result showed that vocational institutions coped with the pandemic’s outbreak through online learning and achieved the overall goal of “Not Going to School but Classes still Ongoing.” Further, vocational institutions have faced problems and challenges of online learning in practice training and internship, organization, and technical environment. The development of vocational education in the information era requires thinking about the system-driven reform path and online learning strategy and putting it into action
Deterministic Spin-Orbit Torque Switching of Mn3Sn with the Interplay between Spin Polarization and Kagome Plane
Previous studies have demonstrated spin-orbit torque (SOT) switching of Mn3Sn
where the spin polarization lies in the kagome plane (configuration I).
However, the critical current density () is unrealistically large (= A/) and independent on the external field (). The stabilized magnetic state also depends on the initial state.
These features conflict with the ferromagnet (FM) switching scheme as claimed
in those studies, and thus call for other explanations. Alternatively, the
system with the spin polarization perpendicular to the kagome plane
(configuration II) is more like the FM based system since the spin polarization
is orthogonal to all magnetic moments. In this work, we show SOT switching of
Mn3Sn in configuration II. Similar to the FM, Jcrit and Hext are in the order
of A/ and hundreds of Oersted, respectively. The switching
result is also independent of the initial state. Interestingly, the unique spin
structure of Mn3Sn also leads to distinct features from FM systems. We
demonstrate that Jcrit increases linearly with Hext, and extrapolation gives
ultralow for the field-free switching system. In addition, the
switching polarity is opposite to the FM. We also provide the switching phase
diagram as a guideline for experimental demonstration. Our work provides
comprehensive understanding for the switching mechanism in both configurations.
The switching protocol proposed in this work is more advantageous in realistic
spintronic applications. We also clearly reveal the fundamental difference
between FM and noncollinear antiferromagnetic switching
Nonlinear magnetotransport shaped by Fermi surface topology and convexity in WTe2
The nature of Fermi surface defines the physical properties of conductors and
many physical phenomena can be traced to its shape. Although the recent
discovery of a current-dependent nonlinear magnetoresistance in spin-polarized
non-magnetic materials has attracted considerable attention in spintronics,
correlations between this phenomenon and the underlying fermiology remain
unexplored. Here, we report the observation of nonlinear magnetoresistance at
room temperature in a semimetal WTe2, with an interesting temperature-driven
inversion. Theoretical calculations reproduce the nonlinear transport
measurements and allow us to attribute the inversion to temperature-induced
changes in Fermi surface convexity. We also report a large anisotropy of
nonlinear magnetoresistance in WTe2, due to its low symmetry of Fermi surfaces.
The good agreement between experiments and theoretical modeling reveals the
critical role of Fermi surface topology and convexity on the nonlinear
magneto-response. These results lay a new path to explore ramifications of
distinct fermiology for nonlinear transport in condensed-matter
HLA Class II Genes HLA-DRB1, HLA-DPB1, and HLA-DQB1 Are Associated With the Antibody Response to Inactivated Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine
Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes HLA-DRB1, HLA-DPB1, and HLA-DQB1 with the humoral immune response elicited by inactivated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine (IJEV).Methods: A total of 373 individuals aged 3–12 years in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China, who received two doses of IJEV at 0 and 7 days, were enrolled in the current study. Based on the individuals' specific JE virus (JEV)-neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), they were divided into a seropositive and a seronegative group. HLA-DRB1, HLA-DPB1, and HLA-DQB1 were genotyped using a sequencing-based typing method. Next, the association of the HLA class II genes and their haplotypes with antibody response was evaluated.Results: Based on NAbs, a total of 161 individuals were classified as seropositive and 212 as seronegative. DQB1*02:01 was significantly associated with JEV seropositivity (P < 0.001, OR = 0.364, 95% CI: 0.221–0.600), while DQB1*02:02 was significantly associated with JEV seronegativity (P = 5.03 × 10−6, OR = 7.341, 95% CI: 2.876–18.736). The haplotypes DRB1*07:01-DPB1*04:01-DQB1*02:01, DRB1*15:01-DPB1*02:01-DQB1*06:02, DRB1*07:01-DQB1*02:01, and DPB1*02:01-DQB1*06:02 were very frequent in the seropositive group, while DRB1*07:01-DPB1*17:01-DQB1*02:02, DRB1*07:01-DQB1*02:02, and DPB1*17:01-DQB1*02:02 were very frequent in the seronegative group. The presence of DRB1*01:01, DRB1*04:05, DRB1*09:01, DRB1*12:02, DRB1*13:02, and DRB1*14:01 was associated with a higher geometric mean titer (GMT) of NAbs than that of DRB1*11:01 at the DRB1 locus (P < 0.05). At the DPB1 locus, the presence of DPB1*05:01 was associated with higher GMTs than that of DPB1*02:01 and DPB1*13:01 (P < 0.05), and the presence of DPB1*04:01 and DPB1*09:01 was associated with higher GMTs than that of DPB1*13:01 (P < 0.05).Conclusions: The present study suggests that HLA class II genes may influence the antibody response to IJEV
Metabolomics in the Development and Progression of Dementia: A Systematic Review
Dementia has become a major global public health challenge with a heavy economic burden. It is urgently necessary to understand dementia pathogenesis and to identify biomarkers predicting risk of dementia in the preclinical stage for prevention, monitoring, and treatment. Metabolomics provides a novel approach for the identification of biomarkers of dementia. This systematic review aimed to examine and summarize recent retrospective cohort human studies assessing circulating metabolite markers, detected using high-throughput metabolomics, in the context of disease progression to dementia, including incident mild cognitive impairment, all-cause dementia, and cognitive decline. We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for retrospective cohort human studies assessing associations between blood (plasma or serum) metabolomics profile and cognitive decline and risk of dementia from inception through October 15, 2018. We identified 16 studies reporting circulating metabolites and risk of dementia, and six regarding cognitive performance change. Concentrations of several blood metabolites, including lipids (higher phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins, and lysophophatidylcholine, and lower docosahexaenoic acid and high-density lipoprotein subfractions), amino acids (lower branched-chain amino acids, creatinine, and taurine, and higher glutamate, glutamine, and anthranilic acid), and steroids were associated with cognitive decline and the incidence or progression of dementia. Circulating metabolites appear to be associated with the risk of dementia. Metabolomics could be a promising tool in dementia biomarker discovery. However, standardization and consensus guidelines for study design and analytical techniques require future development
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