This study presents a scoping review of empirical studies on dictionary use and language learning, with the aim to systematically examine the development and trends of the field across a specific timespan. Based on the content analysis of 104 journal articles published between 1992 and 2024, this study has several major findings. The analysis of publication trends indicates that there is a surge in research interest after 2010, largely due to the rise of digital technology and the increasing recognition of the role of dictionaries in self-directed learning. While the "Big Six" dictionaries are widely used across studies, their electronic counterparts have evolved as the dominant dictionary form, mirroring the impact of the Digital Revolution. It is revealed that there is a growing presence of mixed-method design studies, reflecting the field's increasing concern for both the learning outcome induced by dictionary use and learners' cognitive processes involved in dictionary look-up behavior. It is also found that there is an overreliance on advanced and intermediate EFL/ESL learners to generate conclusions, underscoring the need for studies involving learners of diverse target L2s and varied L2 proficiency levels. Surprisingly, despite the huge potential evinced by electronic dictionaries to support language learning in areas like grammar, pragmatics, and pronunciation, research in these domains remains limited. This scoping review underscores the need for further research, especially those conducted with longitudinal design and in naturalistic contexts, to foster a holistic understanding of how dictionaries can enhance language learning.

In hierdie artikel word 'n evaluerende oorsig van empiriese studies oor woordeboekgebruik en taalleer aangebied, met die doel om die ontwikkeling van die veld asook die tendense in die veld oor 'n spesifieke tydperk, sistematies te ondersoek. Gebaseer op die analise van die inhoud van 104 joernaalartikels wat tussen 1992 en 2024 gepubliseer is, word daar verskeie belangrike bevindings in hierdie studie gemaak. Die ontleding van publikasietendense dui daarop dat daar 'n oplewing in navorsingsbelangstelling ná 2010 is, grootliks as gevolg van die opkoms van die digitale tegnologie en die toenemende erkenning van die rol van woordeboeke in selfgerigte leer. Terwyl die "Groot Ses"-woordeboeke wyd in studies gebruik word, het hul elektroniese eweknieë ontwikkel in die dominante woordeboekvorm, wat die impak van die Digitale Revolusie weerspieël. Daar word aan die lig gebring dat ontwerpstudies wat gemengde metodes behels, al meer voorkom, wat toenemende besorgdheid in die veld weerspieël oor sowel die leeruitkoms wat deur woordeboekgebruik teweeggebring word as die leerders se kognitiewe prosesse wat by woordeboeknaslaangedrag betrokke is. Daar is ook bevind dat daar oormatig gesteun word op gevorderde en intermediêre EVT-/ETT-leerders om resultate te verkry, wat die behoefte aan navorsing wat leerders van uiteenlopende tweedetaaldoeltale en gevarieerde tweedetaalvaardigheidsvlakke betrek, beklemtoon. Ten spyte van die groot potensiaal van elektroniese woordeboeke om taalleer in domeine soos die grammatika, pragmatiek en uitspraak te ondersteun, bly navorsing op hierdie gebiede, verrassend genoeg, beperk. Hierdie evaluerende oorsig beklemtoon die behoefte aan verdere navorsing, veral dié wat met longitudinale ontwerp en in natuurlike kontekste uitgevoer word, om sodoende 'n holistiese opvatting te bevorder van hoe woordeboeke taalleer kan verbeter.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the fertilization capability of White Bengal Tiger frozen-thawed completely immotile spermatozoa after interspecific intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with bovine oocytes. The fertilization status of presumptive zygotes was assessed 18 h after ICSI by immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. The fertilization rate was 34.8% (8/23), as confirmed by the extrusion of two polar bodies, or male and female pronuclei formation. For unfertilized oocytes (65.2%, 15/23), one activated oocyte had an activated spermatozoon but most were unactivated oocytes with unactivated spermatozoa (1/15, 6.7% vs 10/15, 66.7%, respectively, p < 0.05). These results showed that White Bengal Tiger frozen-thawed completely immotile spermatozoa retained the capacity to fertilize bovine oocytes after interspecific ICSI. This is the first report of in vitro produced zygotes using tiger immotile sperm with bovine oocytes by interspecific ICSI technique, which provides an efficient and feasible method for preservation and utilization of endangered feline animals.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar o efeito do procedimento FOCUS-PDCA na habilidade de autocuidado de pacientes submetidos a colostomia por câncer retal. Método: Um ensaio clínico não randomizado com 160 pacientes com câncer retal submetidos a colostomia. O grupo controle recebeu intervenção de enfermagem de rotina, e o grupo observação recebeu o procedimento FOCUS-PDCA. A capacidade de autocuidado dos dois grupos foi investigada por 1 semana e 1 mês após a cirurgia, e foi feita uma análise comparativa entre os grupos. Resultados: Em uma semana após a cirurgia a capacidade de autocuidado de pacientes com câncer retal com colostomia aumentou de 39,09 pontos antes da implementação do procedimento FOCUS-PDCA para 60,15 pontos após a implementação; um aumento de 21,06%. Em um mês após a cirurgia, a capacidade de autocuidado aumentou de 61,50 pontos para 83,13 pontos após a implantação do procedimento FOCUS-PDCA; um aumento de 21,63%. Conclusão: A aplicação do procedimento FOCUS-PDCA melhorou a capacidade de autocuidado de pacientes com câncer retal submetidos a colostomia, melhorou sua saúde física e mental, reduziu as complicações da colostomia e melhorou sua qualidade de vida. Os resultados sugerem que vale a pena aplicar o FOCUS-PDCA de forma mais ampla.

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the effect of the FOCUS-PDCA procedure on the self-care ability of patients undergoing colostomy for rectal cancer. Method: A nonrandomized controlled trial of 160 patients with rectal cancer undergoing colostomy. The control group received routine nursing intervention, and the observation group received the FOCUS-PDCA procedure. The self-care ability of the two groups was investigated 1 week and 1 month after surgery, and a comparative analysis was made between the groups. Results: One week after surgery, the self-care ability of rectal cancer patients with colostomy increased from 39.09 points before implementation of the FOCUS-PDCA procedure to 60.15 points after implementation; an increase of 21.06%. One month after surgery, the self-care ability increased from 61.50 points to 83.13 points after implementation of the FOCUS-PDCA procedure; an increase of 21.63%. Conclusion: Application of the FOCUS-PDCA procedure improved the self-care ability of rectal cancer patients undergoing colostomy, improved their physical and mental health, reduced colostomy complications, and improved their quality of life. The results suggest that it is worth applying FOCUS-PDCA more widely.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Investigar el efecto del procedimiento FOCUS-PDCA sobre la capacidad de autocuidado de pacientes sometidos a colostomia por cáncer de recto. Método: Un ensayo controlado no aleatorizado de 160 pacientes con cáncer de recto sometidos a colostomia. El grupo de control recibió una intervención de enfermería de rutina y el grupo de observación recibió el procedimiento FOCUS-PDCA. La capacidad de autocuidado de los dos grupos se investigó 1 semana y 1 mes después de la cirugía, y se realizó un análisis comparativo entre los grupos. Resultados: En una semana después de la cirugía la capacidad de autocuidado de los pacientes con cáncer de recto con colostomía aumentó de 39,09 puntos antes de la implementación del procedimiento FOCUS-PDCA a 60,15 puntos después de la implementación; un aumento del 21,06%. En un mes después de la cirugía, la capacidad de autocuidado aumentó de 61,50 puntos a 83,13 puntos después de la implementación del procedimiento FOCUS-PDCA; un aumento del 21,63%. Conclusión: La aplicación del procedimiento FOCUS-PDCA mejoró la capacidad de autocuidado de los pacientes con cáncer de recto sometidos a colostomía, mejoró su salud física y mental, redujo las complicaciones de la colostomía y mejoró su calidad de vida. Los resultados sugieren que vale la pena aplicar FOCUS-PDCA de manera más amplia.

Abstract Aqueous and ethanol extracts of A. victorialis were obtained by reflux extraction. A model of kidney yang deficiency as established by injecting hydrocortisone into male Sprague-Dawley rats. The experimental groups (n=8 rats per group) consisted of blank group, kidney yang deficiency group, and Jingui Shenqi control group (oral administration of Jingui Shenqi herbal preparation). In the treated groups, A. victorialis aqueous or ethanol extract was applied at doses of 1000, 800, or 400 mg/kg. In the model group, kidney yang was associated with loss of appetite, increased drinking water consumption and urine output, and decreased range of activity. With a longer injection time, body weight slowly increased, the body temperature decreased, the response was slow, kyphosis was evident in the back of the bow, and body hair became sparse and lost luster in treated group.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic benefits of Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on blood-brain barrier (BBB) vulnerability after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and identify its potential action of mechanisms on TBIinduced injuries. Methods: The rat TBI model was performed by using a controlled cortical impact device. The BBB permeability induced by TBI was measured through Evans Blue dye superflux and western blotting or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for tight junctional proteins (TJPs). The post-TBI changes in oxidative stress markers, inflammatory response and neuron apoptosis in brain tissue were also tested. Results: Herein, the results showed that HSYA acutely attenuated BBB permeability via increasing the production of the TJPs, including occludin, claudin-1 and zonula occludens protein 24 h after TBI. Additionally, HSYA could suppress the secretion of proinflammatory factors, such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), and also concurrently down-regulate the expression of inflammation-related Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-B (TLR4/NF-kB) protein. These HSYA challenged changes were accompanied by the decreased TBI induced oxidative stress markers and inhibited the expression of apoptosis proteins Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9. Conclusions: Taken together, all findings suggested that HSYA (30 mg/kg) are against TBI through improving the integrity in BBB, which are associated with the antioxidant, anti-inflammation and antiapoptosis via the probable mechanism of down-regulation of the TLR4/NF-kB pathway, and its in-detail protective mechanisms are under study.

Background: 3-Ketosteroid-∆¹-dehydrogenase (KSDD), a flavoprotein enzyme, catalyzes the bioconversion of 4-androstene-3,17-dione (AD) to androst-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD). To date, there has been no report about characterization of KSDD from Mycobacterium neoaurum strains, which were usually employed to produce AD or ADD by fermentation. Results: In this work, Corynebacterium crenatum was chosen asa new host for heterologous expression of KSDD from M. neoaurum JC-12 after codon optimization of the KSDD gene. SDS-PAGE and western blotting results indicated that the recombinant C. crenatum harboring the optimized ksdd (ksdd n) gene showed significantly improved ability to express KSDD. The expression level of KSDD was about 1.6-fold increased C. crenatum after codon optimization. After purification of the protein, we first characterized KSDD from M. neoaurum JC-12, and the results showed that the optimum temperature and pH for KSDD activity were 30°C and pH 7.0, respectively. The Km and Vmax values of purified KSDD were 8.91 µM and 6.43 mM/min. In this work, C. crenatum as a novel whole-cell catalyst was also employed and validated for bioconversion of AD to ADD. The highest transformation rate of AD to ADD by recombinant C. crenatum was about 83.87% after 10 h reaction time, which was more efficient than M. neoaurum JC-12 (only 3.56% at 10 h). Conclusions: In this work, basing on the codon optimization, overexpression, purification and characterization of KSDD, we constructed a novel system, the recombinant C. crenatum SYPA 5-5 expressing KSDD, to accumulate ADDfromADefficiently. This work provided new insights into strengthening sterol catabolism by overexpressing the key enzyme KSDD, for efficient ADD production.