The Relationship Between Personality and Teaching Effectiveness of English Teachers from the Perceptions of Students at Dianchi College of Yunnan University in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

This study was conducted to identify whether there was a significant relationship between personality and teaching effectiveness of English teachers from the perceptions of students at Dianchi College of Yunnan University in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. The Big Five Inventory, which was originally designed by John and Srivastava (1999), was used for measuring the level of personality of English teachers at Dianchi College of Yunnan University in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. Student Instructional Report II, which was originally designed by Centra (1972), was used for measuring the level of teaching effectiveness of English teachers at Dianchi College of Yunnan University in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. Ninety students participated in this study, which were conducted during the academic year 2018-2019. The data were collected and analyzed by a statistical software program. According to the purpose and hypotheses of the study, different statistical methods were used to analyze the data (e.g., means, standard deviations, and correlational analysis using multiple correlation coefficient). The study showed that the personality of English junior teachers at Dianchi College of Yunnan University contain agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism and openness. The study also showed that the level of teaching effectiveness of English teachers at Dianchi College of Yunnan University was effective. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between personality and teaching effectiveness of English teachers from the perceptions of students at Dianchi College of Yunnan University in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

Hyperbranched polymer at a solid surface

The interfacial behavior of third and fourth generations of hyperbranched polyesters (HBP3 and HBP4) with 32 and 64 hydroxyl terminal groups was studied. Higher adsorption amount under an identical adsorption condition was found for lower generation HPB3. The shape of HBP3 molecules within an adsorbed layer evolved from pancake with thickness below 1 nm for very low surface coverage to densely packed worm-like structures with thickness about 3 nm for the highest surface coverage. The molecules of the fourth generation, HBP4, hold stable close-to-spherical shape with a diameter of 2.5 nm over the entire range of surface coverage including both dense monolayers and isolated molecules. High intramolecular flexibility of HBP3 molecules as compared with constrained mobility of bulkier branches of HBP4 is considered to be responsible for this behavior, similar to regular dendrimer structures. A uniform monolayer with the thickness of 4.5 nm from an epoxy-functionalized hyperbranched polyester (EHBP) with a core functionalized by alkyl chains with secondary epoxy groups could be fabricated by melt grafting to a bare silicon surface. Such chemical architecture provides dual ability for both grafting to a solid substrate and an inducing surface functionality for the layer. Estimated 3-4 epoxy groups per molecule are located in the uppermost surface layer and provide residual functionality sufficient to graft another polymer layer with appropriate functionality. Grafted layers are extremely robust and sustain high compression and shear stresses while possessing high elasticity. The molecular structures of a series of HPs, HP-0, HP-10, HP-25, HP-50, HP-75 and HP-100, which have different percentage of substituted C17H35 branches, were identified by AFM, FTIR, GPC and LB technique. The number of experimentally substituted alkyl chains calculated from LB[Pi]-A isotherms were roughly in agreement with the theoretical values. AFM images showed there were some aggregate domains scattering on the surface of the LB deposited layers, and these domains demonstrated some pattern for higher surface pressure

Population pharmacokinetics and initial dose optimization of tacrolimus in children with severe combined immunodeficiency undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The present study aimed to explore the population pharmacokinetics and initial dose optimization of tacrolimus in children with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Children with SCID undergoing HSCT treated with tacrolimus were enrolled for analysis. Population pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus was built up by a nonlinear mixed-effects model (NONMEM), and initial dose optimization of tacrolimus was simulated with the Monte Carlo method in children weighing <20 kg at different doses. A total of 18 children with SCID undergoing HSCT were included for analysis, with 130 tacrolimus concentrations. Body weight was included as a covariable in the final model. Tacrolimus CL/F was 0.36–0.26 L/h/kg from body weights of 5–20 kg. Meanwhile, we simulated the tacrolimus concentrations using different body weights (5–20 kg) and different dose regimens (0.1–0.8 mg/kg/day). Finally, the initial dose regimen of 0.6 mg/kg/day tacrolimus was recommended for children with SCID undergoing HSCT whose body weights were 5–20 kg. It was the first time to establish tacrolimus population pharmacokinetics in children with SCID undergoing HSCT; in addition, the initial dose optimization of tacrolimus was recommended

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the PedsQL™ stem cell transplant module in China: A methodological and cross-sectional study

BackgroundHematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), as a mature technology, has significantly improved the survival rate of children. However, there lack efficient scales to assess the quality of life (QoL) of children with HSCT in China, which has important implications in the care of this population. This study aimed to translate the original English Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Stem Cell Transplant Module into a Chinese mandarin version, and evaluate its reliability.MethodsChildren of ages 2–18 years who had received HSCT at Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and Children's Hospital of Fudan University were recruited. Children or their parents were asked to fill the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales, PedsQL™ Stem Cell Transplant Module, and PedsQL™ Family Information Form. Feasibility was evaluated by completion rate and the percentage of missing items, reliability by the internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and validity by factor analysis and correlation analysis between the scores of total scale and each dimension.ResultsA total of 120 children (mean age 6.37, SD = 3.674) and some parents were included. A low percentage of items were missed in returned reports. Cronbach's alpha coefficient reached 0.70 in the majority of dimensions of both child self-report and parent proxy-report. Test-retest reliability was 0.685 in parents' forms and 0.765 in child's forms. Eight factors were extracted, with a cumulative contribution rate of 74.54%. The correlation between PedsQL™ 4.0 and Transplant Module was 0.748 for children self-report and 0.808 for parent proxy-report.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that the Chinese mandarin version of the PedsQL™ Stem Cell Transplant is feasible, reliable and valid in evaluating the QoL of Chinese children after HSCT

A Role for a Dioxygenase in Auxin Metabolism and Reproductive Development in Rice

SummaryIndole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the natural auxin in plants, regulates many aspects of plant growth and development. Extensive analyses have elucidated the components of auxin biosynthesis, transport, and signaling, but the physiological roles and molecular mechanisms of auxin degradation remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the dioxygenase for auxin oxidation (DAO) gene, encoding a putative 2-oxoglutarate-dependent-Fe (II) dioxygenase, is essential for anther dehiscence, pollen fertility, and seed initiation in rice. Rice mutant lines lacking a functional DAO display increased levels of free IAA in anthers and ovaries. Furthermore, exogenous application of IAA or overexpression of the auxin biosynthesis gene OsYUCCA1 phenocopies the dao mutants. We show that recombinant DAO converts the active IAA into biologically inactive 2-oxoindole-3-acetic acid (OxIAA) in vitro. Collectively, these data support a key role of DAO in auxin catabolism and maintenance of auxin homeostasis central to plant reproductive development

Immunological characterization and comparison of children with COVID-19 from their adult counterparts at single-cell resolution

IntroductionThe immunological characteristics that could protect children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from severe or fatal illnesses have not been fully understood yet.MethodsHere, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis on peripheral blood samples of 15 children (8 with COVID-19) and compared them to 18 adults (13 with COVID-19).ResultsThe child-adult integrated single cell data indicated that children with the disease presented a restrained response to type I interferon in most of the major immune cell types, along with suppression of upstream interferon regulatory factor and toll-like receptor expression in monocytes, which was confirmed by in vitro interferon stimulation assays. Unlike adult patients, children with COVID-19 showed lower frequencies of activated proinflammatory CD14+ monocytes, possibly explaining the rareness of cytokine storm in them. Notably, natural killer (NK) cells in pediatric patients displayed potent cytotoxicity with a rich expression of cytotoxic molecules and upregulated cytotoxic pathways, whereas the cellular senescence, along with the Notch signaling pathway, was significantly downregulated in NK cells, all suggesting more robust cytotoxicity in NK cells of children than adult patients that was further confirmed by CD107a degranulation assays. Lastly, a modest adaptive immune response was evident with more naïve T cells but less activated and proliferated T cells while less naïve B cells but more activated B cells in children over adult patients.ConclusionConclusively, this preliminary study revealed distinct cell frequency and activation status of major immune cell types, particularly more robust NK cell cytotoxicity in PBMC that might help protect children from severe COVID-19

Outcome of infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with the Chinese Children's Cancer Group Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 2015 study protocol

Not available

Hyperbranched polymer at a solid surface

The interfacial behavior of third and fourth generations of hyperbranched polyesters (HBP3 and HBP4) with 32 and 64 hydroxyl terminal groups was studied. Higher adsorption amount under an identical adsorption condition was found for lower generation HPB3. The shape of HBP3 molecules within an adsorbed layer evolved from pancake with thickness below 1 nm for very low surface coverage to densely packed worm-like structures with thickness about 3 nm for the highest surface coverage. The molecules of the fourth generation, HBP4, hold stable close-to-spherical shape with a diameter of 2.5 nm over the entire range of surface coverage including both dense monolayers and isolated molecules. High intramolecular flexibility of HBP3 molecules as compared with constrained mobility of bulkier branches of HBP4 is considered to be responsible for this behavior, similar to regular dendrimer structures. A uniform monolayer with the thickness of 4.5 nm from an epoxy-functionalized hyperbranched polyester (EHBP) with a core functionalized by alkyl chains with secondary epoxy groups could be fabricated by melt grafting to a bare silicon surface. Such chemical architecture provides dual ability for both grafting to a solid substrate and an inducing surface functionality for the layer. Estimated 3-4 epoxy groups per molecule are located in the uppermost surface layer and provide residual functionality sufficient to graft another polymer layer with appropriate functionality. Grafted layers are extremely robust and sustain high compression and shear stresses while possessing high elasticity. The molecular structures of a series of HPs, HP-0, HP-10, HP-25, HP-50, HP-75 and HP-100, which have different percentage of substituted C17H35 branches, were identified by AFM, FTIR, GPC and LB technique. The number of experimentally substituted alkyl chains calculated from LB[Pi]-A isotherms were roughly in agreement with the theoretical values. AFM images showed there were some aggregate domains scattering on the surface of the LB deposited layers, and these domains demonstrated some pattern for higher surface pressure.</p