Abstract The study explored the mediating effect of number sense between nonverbal intelligence and children's mathematical performance. The sample consisted of 131 pupils in Shaoxing City of China from grades 1, 3, and 5. The students completed measures of nonverbal intelligence, number sense, basic arithmetic ability, mathematical performance, rapid automatized naming, and working memory. Results show that although all variables significantly relate with each other (all p < .01), only nonverbal intelligence, number sense, and basic arithmetic ability significantly affect children's mathematical performance (all p < .01). According to multiple-mediation model, nonverbal intelligence significantly predicts children's mathematical performance through number sense and basic arithmetic ability. These findings suggest that domain-specific mathematical skills play a prominent role in children's mathematical performance in primary school, rather than domain-general cognitive functions. Educators should pay attention to develop children's number sense in order to improve children's mathematical ability.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the predictive value of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 and the ten-eleven translocation enzyme 1 (TET1) transcriptional expression in postoperative recurrence of uterine fibroids (UFs). METHODS: Seventy-five patients with UF, who underwent surgical treatment, were enrolled in the treatment group, and 60 healthy individuals were enrolled in the control group. The relative expression levels of lncRNA H19 and TET1 mRNA in the serum and UF tissues were analyzed. The patients were further divided into a better curative (BC) group and a poor efficacy (PE) group to analyze the predictive value of lncRNA H19 and TET1 and the independent risk factors affecting the recurrence of UF. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, lncRNA H19 expression levels were significantly higher, while TET1 expression levels were significantly lower in the treatment group (p<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) values of the two indicators for diagnostic importance were found to be 0.872 and 0.826, respectively. Compared with the PE group, lncRNA H19 expression levels were significantly lower, while TET1 expression levels were significantly higher in the BC group (p<0.001). The AUC values of the two indicators for their predictive efficacy were 0.788 and 0.812, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, menarche age, maximum diameter of UFs, number of UFs, lncRNA H19 levels, and TET1 levels were independent risk factors affecting UF recurrence. The AUC values of lncRNA H19 and TET1 for their predictive value for postoperative recurrence were 0.814 and 0.765, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The lncRNA H19 and TET1 have high diagnostic and predictive efficacy for determining the postoperative recurrence of UFs.

Recently, an increasing number of studies have reported that dysregulation of circular RNA (circRNA) expression plays critical roles in the progression of several cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of circRNAs involvement in CRC remain largely unknown. Here, we confirmed that the level of circEGFR was significantly increased in CRC tissues compared to matched adjacent non-tumor tissues, and a high level of circEGFR was correlated with poor clinicopathological characteristics and poor prognosis in patients with CRC. Moreover, increased circEGFR expression promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Mechanistically, circEGFR acted as a ceRNA for miR-106a-5p to relieve the repressive effect of miR-106a-5p on DDX5 mRNA. Moreover, circEGFR enhanced DDX5 expression, thereby upregulating p-AKT levels. Together, these findings showed that circEGFR promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through the miR-106a-5p/DDX5/AKT axis, and may serve as a promising diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for CRC patients.

OBJECTIVES: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are potentially ideal for type 2 diabetes treatment, owing to their multidirectional differentiation ability and immunomodulatory properties. Here we investigated whether the stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) in combination with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) could treat type 2 diabetic rats, and explored the underlying mechanism. METHODS: SD rats were used to generate a type 2 diabetes model, which received stem cell therapy, HBO therapy, or both together. Before and after treatment, body weight, blood glucose, and serum insulin, blood lipid, pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6), and urinary proteins were measured and compared. After 6 weeks, rats were sacrificed and their organs were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining for insulin and glucagon; apoptosis and proliferation were analyzed in islet cells. Structural changes in islets were observed under an electron microscope. Expression levels of Pdx1, Ngn3, and Pax4 mRNAs in the pancreas were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: In comparison with diabetic mice, those treated with the combination or SHE therapy showed decreased blood glucose, insulin resistance, serum lipids, and pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased body weight and serum insulin. The morphology and structure of pancreatic islets improved, as evident from an increase in insulin-positive cells and a decrease in glucagon-positive cells. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining of islet cells revealed the decreased apoptosis index, while Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining showed increased proliferation index. Pancreatic expression of Pdx1, Ngn3, and Pax4 was upregulated. CONCLUSION: SHED combined with HBO therapy was effective for treating type 2 diabetic rats. The underlying mechanism may involve SHED-mediated increase in the proliferation and trans-differentiation of islet β-cells and decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis of islets.

Abstract: The runoff variation characteristics of Dongting Lake were analyzed by applying the methods of concentration degree, concentration period, Mann-Kendall trend test, and variation coefficient. The analysis showed that: 1) The runoff concentration period of Dongting Lake occurs mainly between June and July of each year, with the peak time in late June-early July, and the composite vector directions in concentration period range from 103.2° to 190.2°; 2) The runoff variation coefficient ranges from 0.194 to 0.761, which indicates the instability of runoff. Extreme ratios of inflow and outflow are over 0.6 with an obvious attenuation; 3) The alternating pattern between wet years and dry years showed that the water distribution of the four rivers is relatively equal, while Ouchikou from three bayous is more violent, accounting for 32.79% of wet years and 57.38% of dry years respectively. The drastic change of annual water allocation is adverse to rational utilization of water resources.

Resumen: Se analizaron las características de la variación de escurrimiento del lago Dongting mediante la aplicación de los métodos de grado de concentración, periodo de concentración, análisis de tendencias de Mann-Kendall y coeficiente de variación. El análisis mostró que 1) el periodo de concentración de escurrimiento del lago Dongting ocurre principalmente entre junio y julio de cada año, presentándose el tiempo máximo entre finales de junio y principios de julio y las direcciones de los vectores compuestos en el periodo de concentración van de 103.2° a 190.2°; 2) el coeficiente de variación del escurrimiento oscila entre 0.194 y 0.761, lo cual indica la inestabilidad del escurrimiento. Las proporciones extremas del flujo de entrada y el flujo de salida son superiores a 0.6, con una obvia atenuación; 3) El patrón alternante entre los años húmedos y los años secos mostró que la distribución de agua de los cuatro ríos es relativamente igual, mientras que en Ouchikou, de tres canales pantanosos, es más violento, representando el 32.79% de los años húmedos y el 57.38% de los años secos, respectivamente. El drástico cambio de asignación anual de agua es adverso a la explotación racional de los recursos hídricos.

Hemoglobina (Hb) foi incorporada em Dimetilaminoetil metacrilato (DMAEMA), na preparação de um filme e este foi modificado em eletrodo de grafite pirolítico (PG). O espectro de UV-Vis sugeriu que a hemoglobina no filme manteve sua estrutura secundária. Conseqüentemente, foram observados um par de picos voltamétricos cíclicos, estáveis, bem definidos e quasi-reversíveis, com o potencial formal de -206 mV (vs. eletrodo de calomelano saturado), característico do par redox Fe(III)/Fe(II) do grupo heme da proteína. A constante de velocidade aparente da transferência de elétron heterogênea e outros parâmetros eletroquímicos foram apresentados. A atividade catalítica da Hb em filmes de DMAEMA, frente ao peróxido de hidrogênio, foi também investigada.

Hemoglobin (Hb) was incorporated in dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) to form a film and the film was modified on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrode. UV-Vis spectra suggested that Hb in the film could keep its secondary structure. Consequently, a pair of stable, well-defined, and quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks could be observed with the formal potential at -206 mV (vs. saturated calomel electrode), characteristic of heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple of the protein. The apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant and other electrochemical parameters were presented. The catalytic activity of Hb in DMAEMA films toward hydrogen peroxide was also investigated.