Search Results (34)

Using leveled books to ascertain students’ reading levels has been found to yield scores that are not sufficiently reliable and that lack criterion-related validation evidence. One reason for these findings is the sole reliance on content validation to level books. We present in this study a demonstration of an integrated leveling process for assessing the complexity of text passages. The procedure, which capitalizes on conventional test development practices such as field-testing items, contains a built-in validation process that allows for the selection of text that falls along a confirmed gradient of difficulty, from easy to advance levels of challenge. The integrated leveling process applies both well-established procedures for assessing text levels of complexity as well as a thorough item analysis of the books through pretesting. The resulting assessment tool provides rich information to identify student competencies and needs, inform instructional decisions, and document progress. Full article

Car cabin noise generated by heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems significantly impacts passengers’ acoustic comfort. In fact, with the reduction in engine noise due to the passage from internal combustion to electric or hybrid-electric engines, interior background noise has dramatically reduced, especially at 25% and 50% HVAC airflow rates. While previous research has focused on the effect of HVAC noise in car cabins, this paper investigates the possibility of using car infotainment-system audio cues to moderate onboard sound quality perception. A laboratory experiment combining the factors of infotainment-system audio (ISA) cues, signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), and airflow rates (AFRs) at different levels was performed in two university laboratories in Italy and Japan involving groups of local individuals. The results indicate that introducing ISA cues in car cabins fosters improvements in the perceived aesthetic dimension of sound quality, making it more functioning, natural, and pleasant. For the Italian group, adding ISA cues also moderated the loudness dimension by reducing noise perception. The moderating effects of ISA cues differed between the Italian and Japanese groups, depending on the AFR. All these effects were more evident at the SNR level of −4 dB when the ISA cues competed with existing background noise. Full article

The Cenozoic glaciation of Antarctica proceeded through two distinct steps around 35 and 15 million years ago. The first icing was attributed to thermal isolation due to the opening of the Drake/Tasman passages and the development of the Antarctic circumpolar current. I also subscribe to this “thermal isolation” but posit that, although the snowline was lowered below the Antarctic plateau for it to be iced over, the glacial line remains above sea level to confine the ice sheet to the plateau, a “partial” glaciation that would be sustained over time. The origin of the second icing remains unknown, but based on the sedimentary evidence, I posit that it was triggered when the isostatic rebound of West Antarctica caused by heightened erosion rose above the glacial line to be iced over by the expanding plateau ice, and the ensuing cooling lowered the glacial line to sea level to cause the “full” glaciation of Antarctica. To test these hypotheses, I formulate a minimal box model, which is nonetheless subjected to thermodynamic closure that allows a prognosis of the Miocene climate. Applying representative parameter values, the model reproduces the observed two-step icing followed by the stabilized temperature level, in support of the model physics. Full article

Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPLs) can move along the food chain to higher-level organisms including humans. Three significant routes for MNPLs have been reported: ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. Accumulating evidence supports the intestinal toxicity of ingested MNPLs and their role as drivers for increased incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in high-risk populations such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. However, the mechanisms are largely unknown. In this review, by using the leading scientific publication databases (Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect), we explored the possible effects and related mechanisms of MNPL exposure on the gut epithelium in healthy conditions and IBD patients. The summarized evidence supports the idea that oral MNPL exposure may contribute to intestinal epithelial damage, thus promoting and sustaining the chronic development of intestinal inflammation, mainly in high-risk populations such as IBD patients. Colonic mucus layer disruption may further facilitate MNPL passage into the bloodstream, thus contributing to the toxic effects of MNPLs on different organ systems and platelet activation, which may, in turn, contribute to the chronic development of inflammation and CRC development. Further exploration of this threat to human health is warranted to reduce potential adverse effects and CRC risk. Full article

Background: The coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is an angiographic finding characterised by the delayed passage of contrast through the coronary arteries, despite the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (defined as less than 50% narrowing of the vessel lumen). Patients with the CSFP experience recurrent angina, for which there are limited evidence-based therapies. Ticagrelor may serve as an effective anti-anginal therapy for these patients by increasing adenosine levels, which could alleviate coronary microvascular dysfunction and its associated angina due to its vasodilatory properties. This study aimed to determine the anti-anginal efficacy of ticagrelor 90 mg taken twice daily on spontaneous angina episodes in patients with refractory angina (i.e., episodes ≥3/week despite two anti-anginals) and documented CSFP. Methods: In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial, the anti-anginal efficacy of a 4-week ticagrelor therapy regimen was evaluated in 20 patients with refractory angina (mean age 61.5 ± 10.5 years; 40% women) who had documented slow coronary flow. The primary endpoint was the frequency of angina episodes, recorded using an angina diary. Secondary endpoints included the duration and severity of angina episodes, consumption of short-acting nitrates, and health status evaluations using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) indices. Results: During the four weeks of therapy, ticagrelor did not significantly improve angina symptoms compared to the placebo (placebo 25.7 (16.7)) vs. ticagrelor 19.8 (18.1), p > 0.05). Furthermore, it did not impact other patient-related outcome measures, including angina severity, duration, frequency of prolonged angina episodes, nitrate consumption, or the SAQ/SF-36 health outcome indices. No serious adverse events related to the study drug were observed. Conclusions: In patients with documented CSFP who were unresponsive to standard anti-anginal therapy, ticagrelor did not reduce the frequency of spontaneous angina episodes or the consumption of nitrates. Further confirmation of the potential benefits of this therapy may be obtained through a larger clinical trial. Full article

The gut microbiota (GM) are closely related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence and development. Furthermore, patients with HCC who have received transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment often experience adverse gastrointestinal reactions, which may be related to changes in the GM caused by the chemotherapeutic drugs used in TACE. Therefore, we conducted animal experiments to investigate these changes. We analyzed changes in the GM of New Zealand white rabbits treated with hepatic arterial chemotherapy by measuring the levels of serological and colonic tissue markers. Simultaneously, we evaluated the correlation between the GM and these markers to explore the mechanism by which chemotherapy affects the GM. Following transarterial chemotherapy with epirubicin, the Firmicutes abundance decreased, whereas that of Proteobacteria increased. The relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Muribaculaceae, Enterococcus, Ruminococcus, and Clostridia, decreased in the experimental group compared with those in the control group. However, the relative abundance of harmful bacteria, such as Bacteroides and Escherichia (Shigella), was higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Following chemotherapy, the GM of rabbits showed a dynamic change over time, first aggravating and then subsiding. The changes were most notable on the fourth day after surgery and recovered slightly on the seventh day. The changes in the host’s GM before and after arterial chemotherapy are evident. Hepatic arterial chemotherapy induces dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota, disrupts intestinal barrier function, damages the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, increases intestinal permeability, facilitates excessive passage of harmful substances through the gut–liver axis communication between the liver and intestine, and triggers activation of inflammatory pathways such as LPS-TLR-4-pSTAT3, ultimately leading to an inflammatory response. This study provides a theoretical basis for combining TACE with targeted GM intervention to treat HCC and reduce adverse gastrointestinal reactions. Full article

Within the context of reopening society in the summer of 2021, as the UK moved away from ‘lockdowns’, the Government of Wales piloted the return of organized ‘mass gatherings’ of people at a number of test events. The current study reports behavioral observations that were made at two of the test events to inform this process. The researchers were particularly interested in four key factors: how (1) context within a venue, (2) environmental design, (3) staffing and social norms, and (4) time across an event, affected the personal protective behaviors of social distancing and face-covering use. Data collection was undertaken by trained observers. Adherence to protective behaviors was generally high, but there is clear evidence that these behaviors were shaped in a systematic way by the environment, situational cues, and the passage of time during the events. Some instances of large-scale non-adherence to personal protective behaviors were documented. An analysis within a dual-process framework suggests ways to understand and respond to supporting target health behaviors in groups of people where intervention is deemed valuable, such as in complex or ambiguous contexts. This is one of the first studies to include a ‘true’ behavioral measure in understanding human responses to COVID-19. It demonstrates that behavioral observations can add precision and granularity to understanding human behavior in complex real-world contexts. Given the significant physical and mental health burden created acutely and chronically by COVID-19, this work has implications for how governments and organizations support target populations in other complex challenges facing us today, such as in sustainability, and healthy lifestyle behaviors. An individual’s intentions are not always matched by their actions, and so the findings support a balanced liberal paternalistic approach where system-level changes support appropriate individual-level decisions to engender collective responsibility and action. Full article

This study aims to explore the roles of multiple gust fronts (i.e., outflow boundaries) during a short-lived extreme rainfall that occurred in the Greater Bay Area of South China in the afternoon of 1 August 2021. Through the use of microbarographs and Doppler weather radars, the research highlights how the interactions of five gust fronts, approaching the region from different directions, have contributed to the high precipitation efficiency and damaging surface winds during the event. The close convergence of these gust fronts funneled unstable air masses into the region of interest, priming the mesoscale convective environment. Some isolated convection initiated before the gust fronts’ arrival. Preceding the arrival of these gust fronts, subtle wave-like pressure jumps were identified from the high-frequency (1 Hz) microbarograph observations. The amplitude of the pressure jump is approximately 40 Pa with minimal changes in air temperature. During the early stage of the gust front passages, very high-frequency oscillations in surface pressure are recognized, indicating interaction between the density currents and the low-level troposphere. As suggested through numerical simulations, the subtle pressure jumps are associated with upward displacements of isentropic surfaces aloft, deepening the moist layer and enhancing the lapse rate that are conducive to convective development. The simulated vertical profiles show no evident capping inversion above the dry neutral boundary layer, suggesting that the pressure jumps are likely to be dynamically induced through the collision of the outflows and environmental air masses. The findings of this study suggest the potential application of microbarographs in the nowcasting of the convective development associated with gust fronts. Full article

The aging of the global population has necessitated the identification of effective anti-aging technologies based on scientific evidence. Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are essential for cell growth and function. Age-related reductions in polyamine levels have been shown to be associated with reduced cognitive and physical functions. We have previously found that the expression of spermine oxidase (SMOX) increases with age; however, the relationship between SMOX expression and cellular senescence remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between increased SMOX expression and cellular senescence using human-liver-derived HepG2 cells. Intracellular spermine levels decreased and spermidine levels increased with the serial passaging of cells (aged cells), and aged cells showed increased expression of SMOX. The levels of acrolein-conjugated protein, which is produced during spermine degradation, also increases. Senescence-associated β-gal activity was increased in aged cells, and the increase was suppressed by MDL72527, an inhibitor of acetylpolyamine oxidase (AcPAO) and SMOX, both of which are enzymes that catalyze polyamine degradation. DNA damage accumulated in aged cells and MDL72527 reduced DNA damage. These results suggest that the SMOX-mediated degradation of spermine plays an important role in cellular senescence. Our results demonstrate that cellular senescence can be controlled by inhibiting spermine degradation using a polyamine-catabolizing enzyme inhibitor. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common degenerative disorder in the elderly in developed countries. Currently, growing evidence is pointing at endothelial dysfunction as a key player in the cognitive decline course of AD. As a main component of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), the dysfunction of endothelial cells driven by vascular risk factors associated with AD allows the passage of toxic substances to the cerebral parenchyma, producing chronic hypoperfusion that eventually causes an inflammatory and neurotoxic response. In this process, the levels of several biomarkers are disrupted, such as an increase in adhesion molecules that allow the passage of leukocytes to the cerebral parenchyma, increasing the permeability of the BBB; moreover, other vascular players, including endothelin-1, also mediate artery inflammation. As a consequence of the disruption of the BBB, a progressive neuroinflammatory response is produced that, added to the astrogliosis, eventually triggers neuronal degeneration (possibly responsible for cognitive deterioration). Recently, new molecules have been proposed as early biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction that can constitute new therapeutic targets as well as early diagnostic and prognostic markers for AD. Full article

Although educational breakout has been implemented in pre-university stages, there is little evidence in subjects related to history in postsecondary levels. The aim of this paper was to present the results obtained after implementing an educational breakout, under the premises of Universal Design for Learning, in a history subject that belongs to the university degree in Spanish Sign Language and Deaf Community. A descriptive and comparative ex post facto study (N = 59) was developed to quantify the impact of an educational breakout activity on the students’ commitment, establishing a pre- and post-comparison. Significant differences were found with respect to the perception of the speed of the passage of time and with respect to sustained attention, where there was a statistically significant difference between the time before and the time after the educational breakout. The predisposition of university students to participate in gamified or game-based activities was positive and in subjects such as history, and offers good results, both attitudinal and learning. Full article

Marine noise is an emerging pollutant inducing a variety of negative impacts on many animal taxa, including fish. Fish population persistence and dynamics rely on the supply of early life stages, which are often very sensitive to disturbance. Impacts of marine noise pollution (MNP) on juvenile fish have rarely been investigated in temperate regions. This is particularly true for the Mediterranean Sea, which is considered as an MNP hotspot due to intensive maritime traffic. In this study, we investigate the relationship between MNP related to boat traffic and (i) assemblage structure and (ii) the density of juvenile fishes (post-settlers at different stages) belonging to the Sparidae family. We quantified MNP produced by boating at four coastal locations in the French Riviera (NW Mediterranean Sea) by linearly combining five variables into a ‘noise index’ (NI): (i) boat visitation, (ii) number of boat passages/hour, (iii) the instantaneous underwater noise levels of passing boats, (iv) continuous boat underwater noise levels and (v) duration of exposure to boat noise. Then, using the NI, we identified an MNP gradient. By using juvenile fish visual censuses (running a total of 1488 counts), we found that (i) the assemblage structure and (ii) the density patterns of three fish species (i.e., Diplodus sargus, D. puntazzo, D. vulgaris) changed along the MNP gradient. Specifically, the density of early D. sargus post-settlers was negatively related to MNP, while late post-settler densities of D. puntazzo and, less evidently, D. vulgaris tended to decrease more rapidly with decreasing MNP. Our findings suggest the following potential impacts of MNP on juvenile sparids related to coastal boat traffic: (i) idiosyncratic effects on density depending on the species and the developmental stage (early vs. late post-settlers); (ii) negative effects on recruitment, due to possible alteration of late post-settlement movement patterns. Full article

Deltaic channels are significant landforms at the interface of sediment transfer from land to oceanic realms. Understanding the dynamics of these channels is urgent because delta processes are sensitive to climate change and adjustments in human activity. To obtain a better understanding of the morphological processes of large deltaic channels, this study assessed the evolution and response mechanism of the South Channel and South Passage (SCSP) in the Yangtze Estuary between 1983 to 2018 using hydrology, multibeam echo sounding and historical bathymetry datasets. Decadal changes in riverbed volume and erosion/deposition patterns in the SCSP were assessed. The results showed that the SCSP experienced substantial deposition with a total volume of 26.90 × 10⁷ m³ during 1983–2002, but significant bed erosion with a total volume of 26.04 ×10⁷ m³ during 2003–2010. From 2011 to 2018, the estuarine riverbeds shifted from erosive to depositional, even though the deposition was relatively marginal (0.76 ×10⁷ m³). We inferred that the SCSP have most likely changed from a net erosion phase to a deposition stage in response to local human activities including sand mining, river regulation project, and Deep Water Channel Regulation Project). The channel aggradation will possibly continue considering sea level rise and the ongoing anthropogenic impacts. This is the first field evidence reporting that the lowermost Yangtze River is reaching an equilibrium state in terms of channel erosion and, in fact, the Yangtze River Estuary channels are beginning to aggrade. The findings have relevant implications for the management of the Yangtze River and other lowland alluvial rivers in the world as global sea level continues rising and human intervention on estuarine systems persists. Full article

Influenza A viruses (IAV) modulate host antiviral responses to promote viral growth and pathogenicity. The non-structural (NS1) protein of influenza A virus has played an indispensable role in the inhibition of host immune responses, especially in limiting interferon (IFN) production. In this study, random site mutations were introduced into the NS1 gene of A/WSN/1933 (WSN, H1N1) via an error prone PCR to construct a random mutant plasmid library. The NS1 random mutant virus library was generated by reverse genetics. To screen out the unidentified NS1 functional mutants, the library viruses were lung-to-lung passaged in mice and individual plaques were picked from the fourth passage in mice lungs. Sanger sequencing revealed that eight different kinds of mutations in the NS1 gene were obtained from the passaged library virus. We found that the NS1 F9Y mutation significantly enhanced viral growth in vitro (MDCK and A549 cells) and in vivo (BALB/c mice) as well as increased virulence in mice. The NS1 D2I mutation attenuated the viral replication and pathogenicity in both in vitro and in vivo models. Further studies demonstrated that the NS1 F9Y mutant virus exhibited systematic and selective inhibition of cytokine responses as well as inhibited the expression of IFN. In addition, the expression levels of innate immunity-related cytokines were significantly up-regulated after the rNS1 D2I virus infected A549 cells. Collectively, our results revealed that the two mutations in the N-terminal of the NS1 protein could alter the viral properties of IAV and provide additional evidence that the NS1 protein is a critical virulence factor. The two characterized NS1 mutations may serve as potential targets for antiviral drugs as well as attenuated vaccine development. Full article

Nowadays, pre-trained language models such as Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformer (BERT) are becoming a basic building block in Information Retrieval tasks. Nevertheless, there are several limitations when applying BERT to the query-document matching task: (1) relevance assessments are applicable at the document-level, and the tokens of documents often exceed the maximum input length of BERT; (2) applying BERT to long documents leads to a great consumption of memory usage and run time, owing to the computational cost of the interactions between tokens. This paper explores a novel multi-layer contextual passage architecture that leverage text summarization extraction to generate passage-level evidence for the pre-selected document passage thus brought new possibilities for the long document relevance task. Experiments were conducted on two standard ad-hoc retrieval collections from the Text Retrieval Conference (TREC) 2004 Robust Track (Robust04) and ClueWeb09 with two different characteristics individually. Experimental results show that our approach can significantly outperform the strong baselines and even compared with the same BERT-based models, the precision of our methods as well as state-of-the-art neural ranking models. Full article