Synthesis of size-tuneable CO2-philic imprinted polymeric particles (MIPs) for low-pressure CO2 capture using oil-in-oil suspension polymerisation

Highly selective molecularly imprinted poly[ acrylamide-co-(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)] polymer particles (MIPs) for CO2 capture were synthesized by suspension polymerization via oil-in-oil emulsion. Creation of CO2-philic, amide-decorated cavities in the polymer matrix led to a high affinity to CO2. At 0.15 bar CO2 partial pressure, the CO2/N2 selectivity was 49 (corresponding to 91% purity of the gas stream after regeneration), and reached 97 at ultralow CO2 partial pressures. The imprinted polymers showed considerably higher CO2 uptakes compared to their nonimprinted counterparts, and the maximum equilibrium CO2 capture capacity of 1.1 mmol g−1 was achieved at 273 K. The heat of adsorption was below 32 kJ mol−1 and the temperature of onset of intense thermal degradation was 351−376 °C. An increase in monomer-to-cross-linker molar ratio in the dispersed phase up to 1:2.5 led to a higher affinity toward CO2 due to higher density of selective amide groups in the polymer network. MIPs are a promising option for industrial packed and fluidized bed CO2 capture systems due to large particles with a diameter up to 1200 μm and irregular oblong shapes formed due to arrested coalescence during polymerization, occurring as a result of internal elasticity of the partially polymerized semisolid drops

EEG-Derived Voice Signature for Attended Speaker Detection

\textit{Objective:} Conventional EEG-based auditory attention detection (AAD) is achieved by comparing the time-varying speech stimuli and the elicited EEG signals. However, in order to obtain reliable correlation values, these methods necessitate a long decision window, resulting in a long detection latency. Humans have a remarkable ability to recognize and follow a known speaker, regardless of the spoken content. In this paper, we seek to detect the attended speaker among the pre-enrolled speakers from the elicited EEG signals. In this manner, we avoid relying on the speech stimuli for AAD at run-time. In doing so, we propose a novel EEG-based attended speaker detection (E-ASD) task. \textit{Methods:} We encode a speaker's voice with a fixed dimensional vector, known as speaker embedding, and project it to an audio-derived voice signature, which characterizes the speaker's unique voice regardless of the spoken content. We hypothesize that such a voice signature also exists in the listener's brain that can be decoded from the elicited EEG signals, referred to as EEG-derived voice signature. By comparing the audio-derived voice signature and the EEG-derived voice signature, we are able to effectively detect the attended speaker in the listening brain. \textit{Results:} Experiments show that E-ASD can effectively detect the attended speaker from the 0.5s EEG decision windows, achieving 99.78\% AAD accuracy, 99.94\% AUC, and 0.27\% EER. \textit{Conclusion:} We conclude that it is possible to derive the attended speaker's voice signature from the EEG signals so as to detect the attended speaker in a listening brain. \textit{Significance:} We present the first proof of concept for detecting the attended speaker from the elicited EEG signals in a cocktail party environment. The successful implementation of E-ASD marks a non-trivial, but crucial step towards smart hearing aids.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

FaceScape: 3D Facial Dataset and Benchmark for Single-View 3D Face Reconstruction

In this paper, we present a large-scale detailed 3D face dataset, FaceScape, and the corresponding benchmark to evaluate single-view facial 3D reconstruction. By training on FaceScape data, a novel algorithm is proposed to predict elaborate riggable 3D face models from a single image input. FaceScape dataset provides 18,760 textured 3D faces, captured from 938 subjects and each with 20 specific expressions. The 3D models contain the pore-level facial geometry that is also processed to be topologically uniformed. These fine 3D facial models can be represented as a 3D morphable model for rough shapes and displacement maps for detailed geometry. Taking advantage of the large-scale and high-accuracy dataset, a novel algorithm is further proposed to learn the expression-specific dynamic details using a deep neural network. The learned relationship serves as the foundation of our 3D face prediction system from a single image input. Different than the previous methods, our predicted 3D models are riggable with highly detailed geometry under different expressions. We also use FaceScape data to generate the in-the-wild and in-the-lab benchmark to evaluate recent methods of single-view face reconstruction. The accuracy is reported and analyzed on the dimensions of camera pose and focal length, which provides a faithful and comprehensive evaluation and reveals new challenges. The unprecedented dataset, benchmark, and code have been released to the public for research purpose.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures, journal extension of FaceScape(CVPR 2020). arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2003.1398

Case report: A rare case of left ventricular noncompaction in two Chinese siblings with becker muscular dystrophy caused by deletion of exons 10 to 12 in the DMD gene

BackgroundBecker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is an inherited X-linked recessive condition resulting from mutations of the DMD gene encoding dystrophin. Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare cardiomyopathy morphologically characterized by abnormal myocardial trabeculae and deep recesses in the left ventricle. LVNC in BMD patients has only rarely been reported.Case reportIn the present study, we identified a deletion mutation in exons 10 to 12 (EX10_12 del) of the DMD gene (reference sequence NM_004006.2) in two Chinese siblings with BMD and LVNC by high throughput targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The proband was a 22-year-old man admitted with dyspnea, abdominal distention, and polyserositis. It is noteworthy that both the proband and his younger brother manifested progressive muscular atrophy and creatine kinase (CK) elevation. Light and electron microscopy examination of muscle biopsies showed the typical features of dystrophinopathies. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography demonstrated that both brothers had an enlarged left ventricle, LVNC, and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Finally, the proband underwent heart transplantation at age 26 with an event-free follow-up over 4 years post-transplantation.ConclusionThis case further enriches our knowledge of the symptoms, genotype, cardiac performance, management, and prognosis of BMD patients complicated by LVNC. It is recommended that early comprehensive cardiac evaluation should be considered for patients with BMD to exclude LVNC, as this may have a significant impact on their prognosis

Effect of BRCA1 R1325K mutation on proliferation and apoptosis of gallbladder cancer cells

Objective·To investigate the effects of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) R1325K mutation [arginine (R) to lysine (K) mutation at amino acid 1325] on the proliferation and apoptosis of gallbladder cancer cell lines GBC-SD and NOZ.Methods·BRCA1 wild-type overexpression lentivirus, BRCA1 R1325K mutation overexpression lentivirus, and negative control lentivirus were used to construct the stable transgenic strains of gallbladder carcinoma, cell lines GBC-SD and NOZ. The cells were divided into the control group without the target gene, the BRCA1 wild-type group, and the BRCA1 R1325K mutation group. The expression of target protein was verified by Western blotting. The BRCA1 R1325K mutant gallbladder cancer cells were treated with 20 μmol/L Olaparib, a BRCA1 mutation inhibitor. Gallbladder cancer cell lines were divided into the control group, the BRCA1 wild-type group, the BRCA1 R1325K mutation group, and the BRCA1 R1325K mutation+Olaparib group according to the target gene expression and whether or not the inhibitor was added. The effect of BRCA1 R1325K mutation on proliferation and clonogenesis ability of gallbladder cancer cell lines GBC-SD and NOZ was observed by CCK8 assay and clonogenesis assay, respectively. The effect of BRCA1 R1325K mutation on apoptosis of gallbladder cancer cell lines GBC-SD and NOZ was observed by TUNEL assay. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins, cleaved PARP, Bcl-2 and Bax, were detected by Western blotting. The inhibitor Olaparib was used to treat the BRCA1 R1325K mutant gallbladder cancer cell lines GBC-SD and NOZ. The phenotypic changes (promoting proliferation, enhancing clonogenesis and inhibiting apoptosis) induced by BRCA1 R1325K mutation were tested in the presence of Olaparib to determine whether the changes could be reversed by the inhibitor.Results·The results of CCK8 assay and clonogenesis assay showed that BRCA1 R1325K mutation could promote the proliferation of gallbladder cancer cell lines GBC-SD and NOZ, and improve their clonal formation ability, compared with the control group and the BRCA1 wild-type group. Olaparib inhibited the proliferation of gallbladder cancer cell lines overexpressing BRCA1 R1325K mutation (P<0.05). Through TUNEL and Western blotting, it was found that overexpression of wild-type BRCA1 could induce the apoptosis of gallbladder cancer cell lines GBC-SD and NOZ, compared with the control group. Compared with the control group and the BRCA1 wild-type group, the BRCA1 R1325K mutation group had anti-apoptotic effect, in which the expression of apoptosis-inhibiting protein Bcl-2 increased and the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax decreased (P<0.05).Conclusion·BRCA1 R1325K mutation can promote the proliferation of GBC-SD and NOZ cell lines and inhibit their apoptosis

Disruption of splicing-regulatory elements using CRISPR/Cas9 to rescue spinal muscular atrophy in human iPSCs and mice

We here report a genome-editing strategy to correct spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Rather than directly targeting the pathogenic exonic mutations, our strategy employed Cas9 and guide-sgRNA for the targeted disruption of intronic splicing-regulatory elements. We disrupted intronic splicing silencers (ISSs, including ISS-N1 and ISS + 100) of survival motor neuron (SMN) 2, a key modifier gene of SMA, to enhance exon 7 inclusion and full-length SMN expression in SMA iPSCs. Survival of splicing-corrected iPSC-derived motor neurons was rescued with SMN restoration. Furthermore, co-injection of Cas9 mRNA from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) or Cas9 from Staphylococcus aureus (SaCas9) alongside their corresponding sgRNAs targeting ISS-N1 into zygotes rescued 56% and 100% of severe SMA transgenic mice (Smn , SMN2 ). The median survival of the resulting mice was extended to >400 days. Collectively, our study provides proof-of-principle for a new strategy to therapeutically intervene in SMA and other RNA-splicing-related diseases. -/- tg/

Word of Mouth Marketing in Education and Training Industry : A case study of Word of Mouth communication and its influence on consumer decision making process in the Chinese Education Market

Purpose: the purpose of this thesis is to explore how entrepreneurial business within Chinese education and training service industry to conduct Word-of-Mouth marketing and to further investigate the factors that influence the effectiveness of WOM marketing during customer purchase decision making process. Based on the purpose above, the authors aim to investigate whether there is a relationship between input and output WOM in terms of those factors. Method: the authors used both inductive and deductive approaches to fulfill the exploratory and descriptive purposes. In order to gather primary data, the authors applied multiple methods which combine qualitative and quantitative studies. Respectively, interviews and questionnaires were being used. Result and analysis: the authors obtained the empirical findings from six interviews and ninety two questionnaires. From which, the authors selected the most useful information related to the topic of this thesis based on the previous theories and models. In terms of the qualitative data analysis, a comprehensive summary was extracted. As for the quantitative data analysis, the authors used the SPSS software and then interpret the data according to previous theories and models. Conclusion: in this final part, the authors answered the five research questions. And concluded that based on the internal and external information management, the company should have an Integrated Marketing Communication approach to WOM marketing. Furthermore, the factors that have influence on customer purchase decision making process are six channels and eight attributes for the case company. The importance level of those factors will be further discussed in order to gain implications

Application Progress of Modified Chitosan and Its Composite Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering

In recent years, bone tissue engineering (BTE), as a multidisciplinary field, has shown considerable promise in replacing traditional treatment modalities (i.e., autografts, allografts, and xenografts). Since bone is such a complex and dynamic structure, the construction of bone tissue composite materials has become an attractive strategy to guide bone growth and regeneration. Chitosan and its derivatives have been promising vehicles for BTE owing to their unique physical and chemical properties. With intrinsic physicochemical characteristics and closeness to the extracellular matrix of bones, chitosan-based composite scaffolds have been proved to be a promising candidate for providing successful bone regeneration and defect repair capacity. Advances in chitosan-based scaffolds for BTE have produced efficient and efficacious bio-properties via material structural design and different modifications. Efforts have been put into the modification of chitosan to overcome its limitations, including insolubility in water, faster depolymerization in the body, and blood incompatibility. Herein, we discuss the various modification methods of chitosan that expand its fields of application, which would pave the way for future applied research in biomedical innovation and regenerative medicine

Fighting COVID-19 Misinformation through an Online Game Based on the Inoculation Theory: Analyzing the Mediating Effects of Perceived Threat and Persuasion Knowledge

The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by the rapid spread of misinformation through social media platforms. This study attempted to develop an online fake news game based on the inoculation theory, applicable to the pandemic context, and aimed at enhancing misinformation discrimination. It also tested whether perceived threat and persuasion knowledge serve as underlying mechanisms of the effects of the intervention on misinformation discrimination. In Study 1, we used online priming to examine the influence of inoculation on misinformation discrimination. In Study 2, we developed an online fake-news-game-based intervention and attempted to validate its effectiveness through a randomized controlled trial while also exploring the mediating roles of perceived threat and persuasion knowledge. In Study 1, brief inoculation information priming significantly enhanced the ability to recognize misinformation (F(2.502) = 8.321, p p2 = 0.032). In Study 2, the five-day game-based intervention significantly enhanced the ability to recognize misinformation (F(2.322) = 3.301, p = 0.038, ηp2 = 0.020). The mediation effect of persuasion knowledge was significant (β = 0.025, SE = 0.016, 95% CI = [0.034, 0.075]), while that of perceived threat was not significant. Online interventions based on the inoculation theory are effective in enhancing misinformation discrimination, and one of the underlying mechanisms of this effect lies in its promotion of persuasion knowledge

The Impact of Sluice Construction in the North Branch of the Changjiang Estuary on Saltwater Intrusion and Freshwater Resources

Estuarine projects can quickly change the estuarine topography and influence the hydrodynamics and saltwater intrusion. The Changjiang Estuary is a multiple-bifurcation megaestuary, and the outstanding feature of the saltwater intrusion is the saltwater spillover from the North Branch (NB) into the South Branch (SB). In this study, the improved ECOM-si model was adopted to numerically experiment with the impact of the sluices that are planned for construction in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the NB on the saltwater intrusion and freshwater resources. The simulation results show that, on the one hand, sluice construction can eliminate the saltwater spillover from the NB into the SB; on the other hand, sluice construction makes water enter the NB from the SB, and the runoff discharging into the sea in the SB decreases. The water intake time of the Qingcaosha Reservoir (QCSR) increases by 3.2 days for sluice construction in the upper reaches of the NB and decreases by 0.97 and 0.94 days for sluice construction in the middle and lower reaches of the NB, respectively. Considering the impact of sluice construction in the NB on the saltwater intrusion and freshwater resources, the construction of sluices in the upper reaches of the NB is recommended