Teachers College

An abnormal level of well-known his-rich protein, hemoglobin is related to various diseases. Efficient isolation of hemoglobin is of great significance in early disease diagnosis and biomedical analyses. Developing high-performance adsorption materials has become a research hotspot at present. This study proposes a facile pyrolysis-based strategy to prepare novel magnetic flower-like composites for selective hemoglobin separation. Methoxy-polyethylene glycol-carboxyl (PEG) can impart adhesion resistance to improve adsorption selectivity due to its unique ethylene oxide groups and the repulsive elastic forces from compression of the brush-like chains. Two types of magnetic composites were constructed from bimetallic metal–organic frameworks utilizing Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions as magnetic sources and metal nodes, as well as modification with or without PEG. The properties of the two composites were demonstrated via FTIR, SEM, TEM, DLS, XPS, TGA, BET, and VSM analyses, including flower-like morphology, uniform size (∼2 μm), good dispersibility, porous structure, large surface area, and good magnetic responsiveness. The protein adsorption capacity was further investigated from material factor including the composites modified with/without PEG and environmental factors including incubation time, protein concentration and incubation temperature. Moreover, the adsorption behaviors were explored by kinetics and thermodynamic analysis. Both the PEG-modified and non-PEG-modified composites were effective magnetic adsorbents for selective hemoglobin separation, besides exhibited different adsorption mechanism due to introduction of PEG which induced non-spontaneous selective adsorption rather than spontaneous pure physical adsorption. The magnetic bimetallic MOF system shows promise for isolating His-rich proteins from complex biological systems.

This manuscript provides a comprehensive review of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) thin-film by various deposition techniques, primarily focusing on Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD), Spin Coating, Spray Pyrolysis, Thermal Evaporation, and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) in the methodology section. This study is novel in its approach to systematically compare these widely used techniques alongside emerging and hybrid methods including Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), Hydrothermal Synthesis, Magnetron Sputtering, Electrodeposition, Electrospray Deposition, and the Sol–Gel Method thus offering a unified perspective on ZnO thin-film fabrication. The comparative analysis indicates key findings such as CBD and Spin Coating yield high optical transparency (85–92%) and intense band gaps (2.59–3.37 eV), making them ideal for gas-sensing and UV-blocking applications. Spray Pyrolysis and Thermal Evaporation produce compact films with particle sizes between 25–80 nm, offering properties advantageous for transparent electrodes and optoelectronic devices. Specifically, CVD and ALD exhibit preferable electrical properties with low resistivity (10⁻⁴–10⁻⁵ Ω cm) and high carrier mobility (50–100 cm²/V s), supporting high-performance electronics and nanoelectronics. Furthermore, hydrothermal Synthesis and PLD produce nanostructured thin films with high surface areas, suitable for catalysis, biosensing, and other applications. By presenting a thorough comparison across multiple techniques and identifying optimal deposition methods for various applications, this study contributes a critical resource for ZnO thin-film properties to meet specific technological requirements. The novelty of this work lies in its holistic evaluation of both traditional and advanced deposition methods, offering essential insights for next-generation ZnO thin-film applications in optoelectronics, sensors, biomedical, environmental, and sustainable technologies.

Urban underground space (UUS) provides innovative solutions to urban challenges such as overpopulation, resource scarcity, and environmental issues. However, UUS's lack of comprehensive evaluation standards hinders its sustainable development. This study systematically introduces a novel framework for evaluating green ecological UUS, integrating methodologies such as factor analysis, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and the Delphi method. The framework assesses UUS projects across their lifecycle, focusing on energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental protection. Validation through real-world projects, including Chengdu's Tianfu Square and East Railway Station, demonstrated its practical utility, classifying both projects as two-star ecological grades. Real-world projects, such as Chengdu's Tianfu Square and East Railway Station, validated the framework, classifying them into two-star ecological grades based on the proposed standards. This research provides a valuable theoretical and practical tool for establishing a robust evaluation standard for sustainable UUS development, contributing to global urban sustainability efforts.

Aims Absorptive fine roots play an important role in resource uptake and belowground carbon allocation in woody plants. However, information on how their composition, biomass and length change with tree age remains limited. Methods We selected young and mature trees of four temperate species with distinct root diameter size, comprising thin-root species Fraxinus mandshurica and Larix gmelinii, and thick-root species Phellodendron amurense and Pinus koraiensis. Root biomass, length, anatomy, morphology, and architecture were determined in undamaged fine root branches. Results Based on anatomical observations, absorptive fine roots (exhibit primary development with intact cortex) predominantly comprised first- to third-order roots from young to mature trees across all species. The proportion of absorptive fine root biomass to the total fine root biomass (PARB) increased significantly with tree age, whereas the proportion of absorptive fine root length to the total fine root length (PARL) remained unchanged. Regardless of age group, PARB and PARL in thin-root species of F. mandshurica and L. gmelinii were significantly higher than those in thick-root species of P. amurense and P. koraiensis. The variation in PARB was mainly influenced by the proportions of first- to fifth-order root biomass to total fine root biomass and root diameter. The variation in PARL was mainly influenced by the proportions of first- to fifth-order root length to total fine root length, specific root length, and branching ratio. Conclusions Our findings suggest that absorptive fine root biomass changes during ontogenetic stage, which may influence belowground carbon allocation and resource competition.

In recent years, music education has undergone profound shifts owing to the rapid advancements in digitalisation and the integration of big data technologies. Traditional methodologies in this domain have been challenged, particularly in the selection of musical tracks and their alignment with evolving pedagogical styles, thereby highlighting a pressing need for more contemporary, personalised, and data-driven approaches. This study delves into innovative methodologies designed to augment music education, primarily by harnessing big data technologies. Emphasis is placed on the extraction of salient features from musical tracks, including chroma, Mel Frequency Cepstrum Coefficient (MFCC), and Mel spectrogram. By conducting nuanced similarity analyses, recommendations for stylistic tracks were formulated. Furthermore, with the introduction of weighted calculations centred on musical significance, enhanced precision in track recommendations has been observed. Through these findings, this study not only deepens the academic discourse surrounding music education but also offers crucial insights for its practical applications.

Uranium, a naturally occurring element, is predominantly recognized for its role as fuel in both civilian and military energy sectors. Concerns have been raised regarding the adverse environmental impacts and health risks associated with uranium mining due to the exposure it causes. Such exposure leads to systemic toxicity, affecting pulmonary, hepatic, renal, reproductive, neurological, and bone health. This review identifies significant research gaps regarding detoxification methods for uranium contamination and recommends further advancements , including genetic modification and exploration of plant compounds. A comprehensive review of published research materials from diverse sources of uranium, including various treatments and hazardous impacts on the human body, was conducted. Additionally, a PRISMA analysis was performed in this study. This review emphasizes the importance of collaboration and the formulation of research-informed regulations to effectively safeguard vulnerable communities from the consequences of contamination. Public discourse often emphasizes the significance of radiotoxicity; however, the non-radioactive chemotoxicity of uranium has been identified as a significant risk factor for environmental exposures, contingent upon species, enrichment, and exposure route. Given these serious health consequences, several methods are being investigated to ameliorate uranium toxicity. In response to these concerns, several techniques, such as phytomedicinal treatments, biochemical approaches, and chelation therapy, have been investigated to minimize the adverse effects of uranium exposure in the human body.

Silicon-graphite (Si/Gr) composite anode materials are essential for the advancement of high specific energy lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), yet their performances are often constrained by the interfacial interactions between Si and Gr. In this work, we used ball milling and plasma-assisted ball milling on Gr and nano-sized Si powders, followed by chitosan encapsulation and carbonization to synthesize SG@C and P-SG@C materials, respectively. Our findings indicated that plasma ball milling in an argon atmosphere promotes the exfoliation of Gr while facilitating the intercalation of Si particles within the Gr layers, thereby enhancing encapsulation by chitosan. Compared to SG@C, P-SG@C demonstrates superior initial specific capacity and Coulombic efficiency (CE), achieving a reversible specific capacity of 550.6 mAh/g with a capacity retention of 62.8% after 100 cycles at 0.5 A/g. Furthermore, we observed that the SG@C anodecharacterized by a random arrangement of Si and Gr resulting in degradation. In contrast, P-SG@C demonstrates a concurrent degradation pattern for both components. These observations underscore the advantages of plasma ball milling in optimizing the composite structure of Si and Gr, while highlighting how spatial distribution influences degradation mechanisms affecting anode performance.

Background Most related research focuses on a single variable of verbal and nonverbal behaviors independently without considering their associations. Therefore, it is important to understand subclinical depression in the entire population. Aims This study investigated the cross-modal co-occurrence of nonverbal behavior with vocal emotions, prosody, and content words in individuals with subclinical depression. Methods A total of 70 participants assigned to the subclinical depression and control groups participated in structured interviews. Elan software was used to layer, transcribe, and annotate materials. A support vector machine was used to confirm the two models. Results Cross-modal co-occurrence analysis revealed that the subclinical depression group mainly exhibited strong relationships between the nonverbal behavior “holding hands” and the words including “conflict,” “hope” and “suicide,” while the control group exhibited strong relationship between the nonverbal behavior “holding hands” and the content words including “happy,” “despair” and “stress,” and strong relationships of more nonverbal behaviors with more positive and negative words. The “pause” and “hesitation” of prosody were strongly associated nodes with the subclinical depression group, while “pause” and “delight” (vocal emotion) were strongly associated nodes with the control group. The accuracy rates of the two models through support vector machine were high and could be confirmed. Conclusions The results of the cross-modal co-occurrence analysis revealed negative thoughts and moods of individuals with subclinical depression, whose nonverbal behavior was closely connected with verbal factors.

Purpose Disordered airway protection, including both disordered swallowing (dysphagia) and disordered cough (dystussia), is highly prevalent among persons with Parkinson's disease (pwPD). A comprehensive understanding of the perspectives of pwPD as it relates to airway protection is currently lacking and is necessary to provide relevant, person-centered care. Therefore, this study used a parallel-convergent mixed methods design to quantitatively and qualitatively investigate pwPD's perspectives on airway protection. Method Thirteen pwPD were consecutively recruited from a cough training trial. Quantitative data (obtained from the Swallowing Quality of Life questionnaire [SWAL-QOL] and the modified Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [mCOPM]) and qualitative data (obtained from semistructured interviews) were integrated to define participant knowledge, perceived importance, perceived performance, and psychosocial implications of airway protective deficits. Results All participants reported basic knowledge about airway protection, which centered around four themes—physiology, the interconnectedness between bulbar functions, danger, and impaired airway protection as a consequence of PD. All participants believed that airway protection was important (median mCOPM score = 10), with three primary themes related to importance—survival, anticipated future decline, and maintaining oral intake. We identified a split between participants who perceived themselves to have “a swallowing problem” and those who did not, with three themes relating to perceived impairment—use of eating strategies, unpredictable and inconsistent symptom experience, and vigilance required to mitigate symptoms. Psychosocial ramifications centered on three key themes that aligned with three SWAL-QOL domains—overall burden, fear of future decline, and social embarrassment. Conclusion The integration of quantitative and qualitative data in this study highlights the importance of considering unique patient perspectives to develop personalized and relevant management plans for each unique pwPD that integrate objective and clinical findings with patient priorities and needs. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.28489280

This paper uses shake table tests to study tunnel landslide failures in earthquake zones under four conditions: (GK1) the tunnel intersects the sliding mass, (GK2) the tunnel is perpendicular to the sliding surface, (GK3) the tunnel is positioned below the sliding surface, and (GK4) the tunnel is situated above the bedrock. The dynamic responses under the four conditions are analyzed using time-domain strain analysis methods. Additionally, from an energy perspective, the amplified Arias intensity (MIa) is employed to characterize the cumulative deformation damage of the tunnel lining. The results indicate that under four working conditions, the upper landslide region of the tunnel landslide system exhibits a “settlement-compression-shear” type of sliding failure. However, in conditions GK1 and GK2, where the lining structure is present, the tunnel lining provides additional support to the landslide, resulting in less severe damage to the slope compared to conditions GK3 and GK4. However, under conditions GK1 and GK2, the left sidewall of the tunnel lining experiences more severe damage due to landslide pressure. The maximum soil pressure and bending moment on the left sidewalls in GK3 and GK4 are only 40–60% of those observed in GK1 and GK2. In addition, based on the trend of MIa, the cumulative deformation evolution of the tunnel lining can be categorized into three stages: the initial stage (0.1–0.2 g), the progressive deformation stage (0.2–0.4 g), and the failure deformation stage (0.4–0.6 g). Further research confirms that under seismic action, the slope experiences a significant progressive catastrophic evolution. This process is characterized by typical seismic cumulative damage effects, with sustained seismic loading causing deformation and damage to gradually expand from localized areas to the entire slope. This continuous fatigue effect progressively weakens the stability of the lining structure, ultimately leading to its failure. Therefore, the deformation and damage of the slope under seismic loading pose a serious threat to the safety of tunnel linings, highlighting the need for close attention to their long-term stability. The research results provide a scientific basis for reinforcing tunnel linings in earthquake-prone mountainous areas.

Successful object manipulation involves integrating object properties into a motor plan and scaling fingertip forces through learning. This study investigated whether learned manipulations using a two-digit grip transfer to a five-digit grip and vice versa, focusing on the challenges posed by added degrees of freedom in force distribution. The goal of the task was to exert the necessary compensatory torque (Tcom) and vertical forces to minimize object roll on a visually symmetrical object that with an asymmetrical mass distribution. To examine this, subjects performed blocked consecutive learning trials before switching grip type. Our results support the learning transfer between two-digits and five-digit grasp configurations despite challenges in maintaining perfect stability during the grip switch. Subjects adapted their grip forces (GF), center of pressure (CoP), and Tcom to minimize object roll, with significant improvements observed from novel (1st) to transfer (11th) trials. These findings suggest high-level, effector-independent representations of object manipulation that enable generalization across grip types, though some limitations in force distribution and digit position arise during transfers.

Generally, culture sustains or embodies religious beliefs as it has the role of implementing such beliefs. Culture is a learned behaviour that influences how people perceive and interpret the world around them. Such learned behaviour is passed from one generation to another. Religious belief is complemented by culture in the traditional Shona conception of life, though generally religious beliefs can be stronger than other cultural considerations. Religious belief, like culture, has a profound claim over a person or rather believer’s life which might encompass political domain, health, social, economic, and education to name but a few. Therefore, it could be uncontested that religion shapes people’s identity and their capacity or lack of it to operate in a given environment. This chapter, therefore, seeks to answer but is not limited to the following question: How do Shona’s traditional religion and culture intersect gender and sustainable development?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, with physical inactivity being a known contributor to the global rates of CVD incidence. CVD incidence, however, is not uniform with recognized sex differences as well and racial and ethnic differences. Furthermore, gut microbiota have been associated with CVD, sex, and race/ethnicity. Researchers have begun to examine the interplay of these complicated yet interrelated topics. This review will present evidence that CVD (risk and development), and gut microbiota are distinct between the sexes and racial/ethnic groups, which appear to be influenced by acculturation, discrimination, stress, and lifestyle factors like exercise. Furthermore, this review will address the beneficial impacts of exercise on the cardiovascular system and will provide recommendations for future research in the field.

Currently, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology is widely employed across various industries owing to its inherent advantages. In terms of UAV technology, exploring and optimizing path planning for UAVs occupy a prominent research position. Thus, a constrained optimization model for the UAV path planning was developed, and then, the Marine predator algorithm (MPA) was applied to effectively solve this model. Nevertheless, the MPA encounters limitations, including the tendency to become trapped in local optima and suffer from premature convergence. Therefore, a modified version of MPA, which is called MMPA, was developed. Firstly, circle chaotic mapping is introduced into MPA to address non-uniform initial search agents’ distribution in the algorithm. Secondly, the neighborhood perturbation strategy is introduced to bolster MPA’s performance, enabling it to escape from local optima. Thirdly, in the later iterations of MPA, the lens-imaging-based learning strategy is implemented as a means to enrich search agents’ diversity and further improve the algorithm’s optimization capabilities. From the experimental reports, it is known that the performance of MMPA is better than that of the comparison algorithm, both in the benchmark functions and in UAV path planning. When it comes to path planning, the routes generated by MMPA are smoother and safer than those generated by the comparison algorithm.

Background: Physical activity is essential in enhancing the quality of life for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there is limited evidence regarding the unique barriers individuals newly diagnosed with MS face. The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand the perspectives of persons newly diagnosed with MS about physical activity. Methods: Four focus groups were conducted with persons newly diagnosed with MS (n = 12). Participants were asked open-ended questions related to barriers and facilitators of physical activity, knowledge surrounding physical activity for individuals with MS they would find helpful, and how best to receive this information and track their progress. Results: Four themes were generated from the data: (1) lack of knowledge about MS leads to fear and physical activity aversion, (2) reimagining physical activity leads to frustration, (3) navigating physical activity constraints in a busy world, and (4) accountability is key to maintaining physical activity in the presence of barriers. The findings of the study were used to adapt an existing coaching intervention model to increase physical activity engagement specifically in persons with MS soon after the diagnosis. Conclusions: This study underscores the distinct challenges encountered by individuals newly diagnosed with MS, most notably the time constraints imposed by symptoms and employment commitments. These findings highlight the necessity of developing a tailored physical activity coaching intervention, such as ENGAGE-MS, that prioritizes education, accessibility, and adaptability to maximize benefits and develop long-term, sustainable physical activity behaviors.

Purpose: To explore reliability and inherent variability of physical activity (PA) and exercise self-efficacy (ESE) questionnaires and association of PA with ESE in people with Parkinson disease (PwP). Material and methods: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire (BLPAQ), and ESE data were collected from 30 PwP (NCT049222190). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC90) were calculated to determine test-retest reliability and inherent variability. Pearson correlation analyzed relationship of ESE with PA measures. Results: Test-retest reliability was moderate for IPAQ, good for BLPAQ Planned, moderate for BLPAQ Unplanned, and moderate for ESE. Test-retest reliability was good for IPAQ ≤ 2000 MET-minutes/week and poor for IPAQ ≥ 2000 MET-minutes/week as per subgroup analysis. MDC90 was 2132 MET-minutes/week for IPAQ, 0.97 for BLPAQ Planned, 0.87 for BLPAQ Unplanned, and 21.06 for ESE. ESE showed strong positive association with IPAQ, poor positive association with BLPAQ Planned, and moderately positive association with BLPAQ Unplanned. Conclusion: IPAQ, BLPAQ, and ESE exhibit consistency across sessions and can be used to record PA and ESE among PwP. However, there are limitations, particularly for higher PA levels. MDC90 scores of PA and ESE measures can help determine effectiveness of PA interventions in PwP.

In this study, polycrystalline samples of La0.7Ca0.3-xDyxMnO3 (x = 0, 0.15) were synthesized via the solid-state reaction method. Their structures, magnetic properties, magnetocaloric effects, and critical behaviors associated with phase transitions were systematically investigated. All samples exhibited structures belonging to the Pbnm space group, characterized by precise compositions and good single-phase. The samples underwent paramagnetic-ferromagnetic (PM-FM) phase transitions at Curie temperatures (TC) of approximately 244 K for x = 0 and 132 K for x = 0.15. The incorporation of Dy significantly broadened the half height wide temperature range (ΔTFWHM) from 39.36 K (x = 0) to 121.92 K (x = 0.15). Consequently, the relative cooling capacity (RCP) of the samples was markedly increased, rising from 369.76 J·kg⁻¹ (x = 0) to 721.09 J·kg⁻¹ (x = 0.15). Furthermore, upon doping with x = 0.15, the phase transition type shifted from the first-order phase transition (FOPT) of the parent phase to a second-order phase transition (SOPT). This shift is attributed to the substitution of some Ca²⁺ ions by Dy³⁺, which weakened the double-exchange interaction and altered the phase transition type. Analysis of the critical behavior using the Kouvel-Fisher (K-F) and Modified Arrott plot (MAP) methods revealed that the critical features of the phase transition in La0.7Ca0.15Dy0.15MnO3 are better described by a Mean-Field Model with long-range ordering. Therefore, this study not only enriches our understanding of the physical properties of this class of materials but also enhances their potential for magnetic refrigeration (MR) applications.