A Comparison Study of Curriculum between TESOL in the United Kingdom and TCSOL in China

This research analyses 10 universities from the United Kingdom and China respectively to make a comparison between TESOL and TCSOL curriculum. Based on the analysis, the compulsory courses, and optional courses, some similarities and differences have been analyzed. By referring to the curriculum of TESOL, some suggestions have been put forward. This research aims to inject broader approaches to the study of Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Language (TCSOL), which would result in an enhanced understanding and enlargement of the subject matter, provide new thinking direction, promote the development of TCSOL, and reduce the possible confusion on the future development

Neighbourhood satisfaction in rural resettlement residential communities: the case of Suqian, China

Against the background of large-scale urbanisation and rural land expropriation, rural resettlement residential housing has been built to accommodate local rural residents in the peripheral areas of China. To explore the context-specific policy implications for improving neighbourhood satisfaction (NS) of residents in rural resettlement residential communities (RRRCs), this paper examines the determinants of NS, and their spatial effects, in rural resettlement residential neighbourhoods using Suqian, in Jiangsu Province, as a case study. This study contributes to the current literature in two ways: it constitutes the first attempt to examine NS among RRRCs; second, our spatial model helps to gain further understanding of horizontal and vertical spatial dependence effects. Our results indicate that income, gender, age, family structure, number of years living in a community, transport and architectural age all have significant effects on NS in RRRCs

A Retrospective Study of Progression-Free and Overall Survival in Pediatric Medulloblastoma Based on Molecular Subgroup Classification: A Single-Institution Experience

BackgroundMedulloblastoma (MB) has been classified into four core subgroups according to the transcriptional profile in recent years. However, some disagreement among researchers remains regarding the prognoses and most effective treatments of the different subgroups with different age distributions.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to analyze MB prognosis in children population based on the classification of four molecular subgroups.MethodsFrom January 2011 to January 2013, 84 consecutive MB patients aged underwent tumor removal at Beijing Tiantan Hospital. A total of 55 patients who ranged in age from 4 to 18 years underwent detailed follow-up. Molecular subgrouping was performed using RT-PCR.ResultsThe 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates for the entire cohort were 76.2 ± 5.8 and 81.8 ± 5.2%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that the Group 4 patients had a better survival (2-year OS, 90.6 ± 5.2%) than the SHH subgroup (P = 0.002) and Group 3 patients (P = 0.008). Only two of the 23 non-metastasized Group 4 patients relapsed, and chemotherapy did significantly affect these patients (PFS, P = 0.685). One out of five WNT patients had tumor relapse and died at last. Large cell/anaplastic (LC/A) histology and chemotherapy were independent risk factors in multivariate analysis.ConclusionIn our study, the non-metastasized Group 4 patients had an excellent prognosis. The SHH subgroup and Group 3 patients had worst prognoses. LC/A histology had a dismal prognosis in our cohorts, which warrants intensive treatment

Naringenin prevents TGF-β1 secretion from breast cancer and suppresses pulmonary metastasis by inhibiting PKC activation

Presenting the incidence of pulmonary metastasis (mice with metastasis/total mice). Tumor-bearing mice treated with naringenin or 1D11 were imaged on day 24 using bags to avoid the bioluminescence from primary tumor. The mice with pulmonary metastases were numbered based on the bioluminescence signal. (TIF 26 kb

Image-guided interstitial brachytherapy for recurrent cervical cancer after radiotherapy: A single institution experience

PurposeThe aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of image-guided high-dose rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) for the reirradiation of cervical cancer within a previously irradiated area.Methods and materialsTwenty-three consecutive patients with cervical cancer were reirradiated with curative intent using brachytherapy (BT) with or without external beam irradiation. The median biologically equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions (EQD2) for reirradiation was 64.0 Gy (range: 31.3–95.1 Gy), and the median cumulative EQD2 (for primary treatment and reirradiation) was 152.4 Gy (range: 97.8–200.9 Gy). The average clinical target volume was 82.9 cm3 (range: 26.9–208.3 cm3), and the median treatment-free interval (TFI) was 13 months (range: 3–93 months).ResultsThe median follow-up time was 19 months (range: 2–59 months). The complete response rate after reirradiation was 56.5%. The 1-, 2- 3-, and 4-year post-relapse survival (PRS) rates were 65.2%, 43.5%, 33.8%, and 27.1%, respectively. The median reirradiation EQD2 D2cc of rectum and bladder was 39.5 Gy (range = 14.6–96.2 Gy) and 52.1 Gy (range = 29.1–114.2 Gy). The median cumulative EQD2 D2cc of rectum and bladder was 115.0 Gy (range = 84.4–189.3 Gy) and 130.5 Gy (range = 95.5–173.5 Gy). During follow-up, nine (39.1%) patients had experienced grade 3 or 4 late toxicities. Grade ≥3 rectal toxicity occurred in three patients (13.0%). Grade ≥3 urinary toxicity occurred in five patients (21.7%). One patient (4.3%) had both grade ≥3 urinary and rectal toxicity. Tumor volume, TFI, tumor invasion organ number, and local control were significant prognostic factors adversely affecting OS.ConclusionsFor recurrent cervical cancer after radiotherapy, reirradiation of HDR-ISBT is feasible, even if the local tumor invasion is large, with a good chance of survival and acceptable side effects

Highly Stable Garnet Fe2Mo3O12 Cathode Boosts the Lithium–Air Battery Performance Featuring a Polyhedral Framework and Cationic Vacancy Concentrated Surface

Lithium–air batteries (LABs), owing to their ultrahigh theoretical energy density, are recognized as one of the next-generation energy storage techniques. However, it remains a tricky problem to find highly active cathode catalyst operating within ambient air. In this contribution, a highly active Fe2Mo3O12 (FeMoO) garnet cathode catalyst for LABs is reported. The experimental and theoretical analysis demonstrate that the highly stable polyhedral framework, composed of FeO octahedrons and MO tetrahedrons, provides a highly effective air catalytic activity and long-term stability, and meanwhile keeps good structural stability. The FeMoO electrode delivers a cycle life of over 1800 h by applying a simple half-sealed condition in ambient air. It is found that surface-rich Fe vacancy can act as an O2 pump to accelerate the catalytic reaction. Furthermore, the FeMoO catalyst exhibits a superior catalytic capability for the decomposition of Li2CO3. H2O in the air can be regarded as the main contribution to the anode corrosion and the deterioration of LAB cells could be attributed to the formation of LiOH·H2O at the end of cycling. The present work provides in-depth insights to understand the catalytic mechanism in air and constitutes a conceptual breakthrough in catalyst design for efficient cell structure in practical LABs

VS-4718 Antagonizes Multidrug Resistance in ABCB1- and ABCG2-Overexpressing Cancer Cells by Inhibiting the Efflux Function of ABC Transporters

Overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters is one of the most important mechanisms responsible for multi-drug resistance (MDR). VS-4718, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting focal adhesion kinase (FAK) with a potential anticancer effect, is currently evaluated in clinical trials. In this study, we investigated whether VS-4718 could reverse MDR mediated by ABC transporters, including ABCB1, ABCG2, and ABCC1. The results showed that VS-4718 significantly reversed ABCB1- and ABCG2-mediated MDR, but not MDR mediated by ABCC1. Treatment of VS-4718 did not alter the protein level and subcellular localization of ABCB1 or ABCG2. Mechanism studies indicated that the reversal effects of VS-4718 were related to attenuation of the efflux activity of ABCB1 and ABCG2 transporters. ATPase analysis indicated that VS-4718 stimulated the ATPase activity of ABCB1 and ABCG2. Docking study showed that VS-4718 interacted with the substrate-binding sites of both ABCB1 and ABCG2, suggesting that VS-4718 may affect the activity of ABCB1 and ABCG2 competitively. This study provided a novel insight for MDR cancer treatment. It indicated that combination of VS-4718 with antineoplastic drugs could attenuate MDR mediated by ABCB1 or ABCG2 in ABCB1- or ABCG2-overexpressing cancer cells

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

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