What Matters in Online Education: Exploring the Impacts of Instructional Interactions on Learning Outcomes

Instructional interactions, which includes student–student interaction (SS), student–teacher interaction (ST), and student–content interaction (SC), are crucial factors affecting the learning outcomes in online education. The current study aims to explore the effects of instructional interactions on individuals’ learning outcomes (i.e., academic performance and learning satisfaction) based on the Interactive Equivalence Theory by conducting two empirical studies. In Study 1, we explored the direct relationships between instructional interactions and learning outcomes. A quasi-experimental design was used to manipulate the two groups of subjects (n1 = 192; n2 = 195), and the results show that not all of the three types of interaction can significantly positively predict learning satisfaction, among which ST cannot significantly predict learning satisfaction. When the total amount of instructional interactions is constant, adjusting the relative level of the three types of instructional interactions can effectively improve the learning outcomes to some extent. We further probed into the mediating effects of task value and self-regulated learning on the relationships between instructional interactions and learning outcomes in Study 2. We conducted an online survey and collected 374 valid data. The results showed that task values mediated the relationship between SS and learning satisfaction. In addition, SC can not only directly affect learning satisfaction, but also affect it through task value and self-regulated learning respectively, or via chain mediations of both task value and self-regulated learning. Our findings enrich the previous instructional interactions research and provide reference for online education curriculum design.

Temporal loudness weights: Primacy effects, loudness dominance and their interaction

Loudness judgments of sounds varying in level across time show a non-uniform temporal weighting, with increased weights assigned to the beginning of the sound (primacy effect). In addition, higher weights are observed for temporal components that are higher in level than the remaining components (loudness dominance). In three experiments, sounds consisting of 100- or 475-ms Gaussian wideband noise segments with random level variations were presented and either none, the first, or a central temporal segment was amplified or attenuated. In Experiment 1, the sounds consisted of four 100-ms segments that were separated by 500-ms gaps. Previous experiments did not show a primacy effect in such a condition. In Experiment 2, four- or ten-100-ms-segment sounds without gaps between the segments were presented to examine the interaction between the primacy effect and level dominance. As expected, for the sounds with segments separated by gaps, no primacy effect was observed, but weights on amplified segments were increased and weights on attenuated segments were decreased. For the sounds with contiguous segments, a primacy effect as well as effects of relative level (similar to those in Experiment 1) were found. For attenuation, the data indicated no substantial interaction between the primacy effect and loudness dominance, whereas for amplification an interaction was present. In Experiment 3, sounds consisting of either four contiguous 100-ms or 475-ms segments, or four 100-ms segments separated by 500-ms gaps were presented. Effects of relative level were more pronounced for the contiguous sounds. Across all three experiments, the effects of relative level were more pronounced for attenuation. In addition, the effects of relative level showed a dependence on the position of the change in level, with opposite direction for attenuation compared to amplification. Some of the results are in accordance with explanations based on masking effects on auditory intensity resolution.

Farmers’ Satisfaction with Land Expropriation System Reform: A Case Study in China

Farmers’ satisfaction with reform of the land expropriation system has not been fully examined, so it is difficult to comprehensively and successfully judge the effectiveness of the reforms. Traditional statistical methods cannot accurately explain the relationship between the variables. In order to fully understand the implementation, progress, and applicability of land expropriation system reform, this paper analyzes the factors influencing farmers’ satisfaction, presents the shortcomings of land expropriation system reform, and puts forward improvement suggestions. Taking the land expropriation system reform pilot in Dingzhou city as an example, this paper investigates the satisfaction of the farmers who have had their land expropriated by establishing a structural equation model (SEM) to obtain feedback on the implementation effect of the pilot work. The results show that the factors affecting farmers’ satisfaction with the reform of land expropriation systems can be summarized into four variables: land expropriation compensation standard, land income distribution, land expropriation security mode, and land expropriation procedure. The parameter estimation between these four potential variables and their corresponding observation variables shows that, in the process of land expropriation, the comparison of land expropriation compensation standards and observation variables with market entry projects is an important factor affecting the satisfaction of farmers with regard to land expropriation. The income of municipal and county governments and village collective incomes have a great impact on farmers, indicating that the satisfaction of farmers is not only related to the absolute level of compensation and income, but is also affected by the relative level. In addition, providing farmers with a variety of reasonable security methods is an important element to enable the smooth progress of land expropriation. Furthermore, attention should also be paid to the formulation of land expropriation schemes and emergency plans to solve land expropriation conflicts.

Methylation of DROSHA and DICER as a Biomarker for the Detection of Lung Cancer

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Early diagnosis may improve the prognosis. Methods: Using quantitative methylation-specific real-time PCR (qMSP-PCR), we assessed the methylation status of two genes (in two subsequent regions according to locations in their promoter sequences) related to carcinogenesis, DICER and DROSHA, in 101 plasma samples (obtained prior to the treatment) of lung cancer patients and 45 healthy volunteers. Results: The relative level of methylation of DROSHA was significantly lower (p = 0.012 for first and p < 0.00001 for the second region) and DICER significantly higher (p = 0.029 for the first region) in cancer patients. The relative level of methylation of DROSHA was significantly (p = 0.037) higher in patients with early-stage NSCLC (IA-IIIA) and could discriminate them from healthy people with a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 76% (AUC = 0.696, 95% CI: 0.545–0.847, p = 0.011) for the first region and with a sensitivity of 60% and specificity of 85% (AUC = 0.795, 95% CI: 0.689–0.901, p < 0.0001) for the second region. Methylation analysis of the first region of the DICER enabled the distinction of NSCLC patients from healthy individuals with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 60% (AUC = 0.651, 95% CI: 0.517–0.785, p = 0.027). The limitations of the study include its small sample size, preliminary nature, being an observational type of study, and the lack of functional experiments allowing for the explanation of the biologic backgrounds of the observed associations. Conclusion: The obtained results indicate that the assessment of DICER and DROSHA methylation status can potentially be used as a biomarker for the early detection of lung cancer.

Effect of homophily and correlation of beliefs on COVID-19 and general infectious disease outbreaks

Contact between people with similar opinions and characteristics occurs at a higher rate than among other people, a phenomenon known as homophily. The presence of clusters of unvaccinated people has been associated with increased incidence of infectious disease outbreaks despite high population-wide vaccination rates. The epidemiological consequences of homophily regarding other beliefs as well as correlations among beliefs or circumstances are poorly understood, however. Here, we use a simple compartmental disease model as well as a more complex COVID-19 model to study how homophily and correlation of beliefs and circumstances in a social interaction network affect the probability of disease outbreak and COVID-19-related mortality. We find that the current social context, characterized by the presence of homophily and correlations between who vaccinates, who engages in risk reduction, and individual risk status, corresponds to a situation with substantially worse disease burden than in the absence of heterogeneities. In the presence of an effective vaccine, the effects of homophily and correlation of beliefs and circumstances become stronger. Further, the optimal vaccination strategy depends on the degree of homophily regarding vaccination status as well as the relative level of risk mitigation high- and low-risk individuals practice. The developed methods are broadly applicable to any investigation in which node attributes in a graph might reasonably be expected to cluster or exhibit correlations.

KAPPA: A Package for the Synthesis of Optically Thin Spectra for the Non-Maxwellian κ-distributions. II. Major Update to Compatibility with CHIANTI Version 10

KAPPA is a database and software for the calculation of the optically thin spectra for the non-Maxwellian κ-distributions that were recently diagnosed in the plasma of solar coronal loops, flares, as well as in the transition region. KAPPA is based on the widely used CHIANTI database and reproduces many of its capabilities for κ-distributions. Here we perform a major update of the KAPPA database, including a near-complete recalculation of the ionization, recombination, excitation, and deexcitation rates for all ions in the database, as well as an implementation of the two-ion model for calculations of relative-level populations (and intensities) if these are modified by ionization and recombination from or to excited levels. As an example of KAPPA usage, we explore novel diagnostics of κ, and show that O iii lines near 500 and 700 Å provide a strong sensitivity to κ, with some line intensity ratios changing by a factor of up to 2–4 compared to Maxwellian. This is much larger than previously employed diagnostics of κ.

Recent Trends in Greenhouse Gases Levels in the Soils of the Coconino National Forest

We have taken near-surface soil measurements of the gases CO2 , CH4 , H2 O and isoprene in several regions of the Coconino National Forest, Arizona, USA. Sets of measurements were taken both prior to the start of the seasonal monsoon season, in addition to while the monsoon season was underway. We have also compared the current monsoon season readings with readings taken at the same locations four years prior. For CO2, the relative level in the pristine forest soil is just under 3.7 percent lower than that measured in 2017, while the CO2 relative levels for the thinned and logged sites are lower by 13.5 and 5.4 percent, respectively. Even accounting for small increases in forest vegetation, these lower readings appear to be correlated to lower overall soil H2 O concentrations. The pristine CH4 relative concentration in 2021 is 9.6% higher and the thinned CH4 level is 19% higher. For the logged region, the measured methane level is over 70% lower than in 2017, but still approximately triple the methane level as seen in the other forest areas. We conclude that this result also may also be correlated to lower measured H2 O levels in the soils.

Resveratrol Hinders Postovulatory Aging by Modulating Oxidative Stress in Porcine Oocytes

Postovulatory aging of the mammalian oocytes causes deterioration of oocytes through several factors including oxidative stress. Keeping that in mind, we aimed to investigate the potential of a well-known antioxidant, resveratrol (RV), to evaluate the adverse effects of postovulatory aging in porcine oocytes. After in vitro maturation (IVM), a group of (25–30) oocytes (in three replicates) were exposed to 0, 1, 2, and 4 μmol/L of RV, respectively. The results revealed that the first polar body (PB1) extrusion rate of the oocytes significantly increased when the RV concentration reached up to 2 μmol/L (p < 0.05). Considering optimum RV concentration of 2 μmol/L, the potential of RV was evaluated in oocytes aged for 24 and 48 h. We used fluorescence microscopy to detect the relative level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), while GHS contents were measured through the enzymatic method. Our results revealed that aged groups (24 h and 48 h) treated with RV (2 μmol/L) showed higher (p < 0.05) ROS fluorescence intensity than the control group, but lower (p < 0.05) than untreated aged groups. The GSH content in untreated aged groups (24 h and 48 h) was lower (p < 0.05) than RV-treated groups, but both groups showed higher levels than the control. Similarly, the relative expression of the genes involved in antioxidant activity (CAT, GPXGSH-Px, and SOD1) in RV-treated groups was lower (p < 0.05) as compared to the control group but higher than that of untreated aged groups. Moreover, the relative mRNA expression of caspase-3 and Bax in RV-treated groups was higher (p < 0.05) than the control group but lower than untreated groups. Furthermore, the expression of Bcl-2 in the RV-treated group was significantly lower than control but higher than untreated aged groups. Taken together, our findings revealed that the RV can increase the expression of antioxidant genes by decreasing the level of ROS, and its potent antiapoptotic effects resisted against the decline in mitochondrial membrane potential in aged oocytes.

CELLULAR IMMUNITY PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH REMITTING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

The aim of this work was to study some parameters of cellular immunity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study included 10 patients with relapsing-remitting MS aged 32 to 50 years. Diagnosis was clinically established and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Patients did not receive immunosuppressive therapy for at least 6 months prior to study entry. The neurological status of all examined patients was assessed using the Kurtzke functional scale using the Extended Disability Scale (EDSS) and averaged 4.0±0.67 points, the mean number of exacerbations per year was 1.25±0.25. While studying such parameters of the immune status such as the number of T, B, NK-cells, the content of immunoglobulins, the phagocytic activity of monocytes and granulocytes, their production of reactive oxygen species, no significant differences were observed in patients with MS in comparison with the normal donor level. At the same time, we have noted an increase in the proliferative response of mononuclear blood cells to myelin antigen by 2.35 times. The content of CD4+CD45RO+CD62L+ and CD8+CD45RO+CD62L+ central memory T-cells, as well as CD8+CD45RO+CD62L- effector memory T-cells in the blood of MS patients significantly exceeded the control values (p < 0.05). Also, in MS patients, compared with healthy individuals, there was an increased level of naive IFNγ-positive CD4+CD45RO- and CD8+CD45ROT-cells (p < 0.01), and an increase in CD4+CD45RO+ and CD8+CD45RO+ memory T-cells producing IFNγg or IFNγg together with IL-4 in response to the activation (p < 0.01). Consistent with these data, there were significantly increased serum IFNγ and IL-17 levels and no changes in IL-4 levels. The relative level of naive CD4+CD25+FoxP3+, as well as induced CD4+CD25- FoxP3+ regulatory T-cells in MS patients did not significantly change compared to donor values. The results of assessing some parameters of the immune status in MS patients indicate a functional reshaping of the immune system towards the Th1 type of immune response. It is obvious that immunotropic treatment of MS should be aimed at inactivating auto-immune Tand B-lymphocytes, suppressing the production of proinflammatory mediators, and enhancing the activity of natural and induced regulatory T-cells.

Deregulation of hsa_circ_0001971/miR-186 and hsa_circ_0001874/miR-296 signaling pathways promotes the proliferation of oral squamous carcinoma cells by synergistically activating SHP2/PLK1 signals

It has been demonstrated that circ_0001874 and circ_0001971 are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of oral squamous carcinoma (OSCC). MiR-186 was reported to serve as a tumor suppressor in OSCC, and the down-regulation of miR-186 was reported to lead to higher expression of oncogenic factor SHP2 and the activation of growth promoting signaling. In this study, we aimed to explore the possible molecular role of circ_0001874 and circ_0001971 signaling in the pathogenesis of OSCC. RT-qPCR, Western blot, online bioinformatics tools and luciferase assay were utilized to study the molecular signaling pathways of circ_0001874 and circ_0001971. MTT assay and FCM assay were performed to investigate the synergistic effect of circ_0001971 and circ_0001874 on cell proliferation and apoptosis. By observing the effect of different miRNAs on the levels of circ_0001847 and circ_0001971, it was identified that circ_0001847 and circ_0001971 respectively sponged the expression of miR-296 and miR-186 via binding to these miRNAs. Also, SHP2 mRNA and PLK1 mRNA were respectively targeted by miR-186 and miR-296-5p. We also established two signaling pathways, i.e., circ_0001971/miR-186/SHP2 and circ_0001874/miR-296-5p/PLK1, and validated the synergistic effect of circ_0001971 and circ_0001874 via observing their positive effect on cell proliferation and negative effect on cell apoptosis. The expression of miR-186 and miR-296-5p was generally lower in saliva of OSCC patients compared with that in OLK patients, while the expression of miR-186 and miR-296-5p was specifically up-regulated in saliva of OSCC patients. In conclusion, the finding of this study demonstrated that the relative level of hsa_circ_0001971 and hsa_circ_0001874 were different in the saliva of OSCC patients and could be used as predictive biomarkers for the development of OSCC. Furthermore, oncogenic effects of hsa_circ_0001971 and hsa_circ_0001874 in the development of OSCC might be, at least partially, mediated by its downstream signaling pathways including hsa_circ_0001971/microRNA-186/SHP2 and hsa_circ_0001874/microRNA-297/PLK1.