Competence, preparation, and relaxation: Contributing factors to EFL student teachers' self-efficacy and teaching performance in microteaching training.

Microteaching is called "micro" teaching because it involves teaching a short lesson to a small group of people in a simulated classroom setting, with the goal of improving specific teaching skills or behaviors. Microteaching training represents a significant approach for enhancing the teaching competencies of student teachers. However, there is a scarcity of studies that examine the factors contributing to the self-efficacy and teaching performance of student teachers, both of which are central concerns in microteaching training programs. This study addresses this gap by synthesizing five contributing factors from existing literature, collecting survey responses from 272 English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) student teachers, and employing structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the relationships between these factors. The four hypotheses that were rejected yielded unexpected results, indicating negative relationships between participants' teaching experience and EFL speaking competence with their lesson-delivery competence, as well as a negative relationship between lesson-delivery competence and self-efficacy. Interestingly, public speaking anxiety was found to have no statistically significant impact on EFL student teachers' self-efficacy. This study establishes a theoretical framework that can assist decision-makers in enhancing facilitators and overcoming barriers in microteaching training programs. This framework can also be adapted for use in other academic studies.

Synthesis and Hydrogen Production Performance of MoP/a-TiO2/Co-ZnIn2S4 Flower-like Composite Photocatalysts.

Semiconductor photocatalysis is an effective strategy for solving the problems of increasing energy demand and environmental pollution. ZnIn2S4-based semiconductor photocatalyst materials have attracted much attention in the field of photocatalysis due to their suitable energy band structure, stable chemical properties, and good visible light responsiveness. In this study, ZnIn2S4 catalysts were modified by metal ion doping, the construction of heterojunctions, and co-catalyst loading to successfully prepare composite photocatalysts. The Co-ZnIn2S4 catalyst synthesized by Co doping and ultrasonic exfoliation exhibited a broader absorption band edge. Next, an a-TiO2/Co-ZnIn2S4 composite photocatalyst was successfully prepared by coating partly amorphous TiO2 on the surface of Co-ZnIn2S4, and the effect of varying the TiO2 loading time on photocatalytic performance was investigated. Finally, MoP was loaded as a co-catalyst to increase the hydrogen production efficiency and reaction activity of the catalyst. The absorption edge of MoP/a-TiO2/Co-ZnIn2S4 was widened from 480 nm to about 518 nm, and the specific surface area increased from 41.29 m2/g to 53.25 m2/g. The hydrogen production performance of this composite catalyst was investigated using a simulated light photocatalytic hydrogen production test system, and the rate of hydrogen production by MoP/a-TiO2/Co-ZnIn2S4 was found to be 2.96 mmol·h-1·g-1, which was three times that of the pure ZnIn2S4 (0.98 mmol·h-1·g-1). After use in three cycles, the hydrogen production only decreased by 5%, indicating that it has good cycle stability.

NF-κB/Twist axis is involved in chysin inhibition of ovarian cancer stem cell features induced by co-treatment of TNF-α and TGF-ß.

Chrysin (ChR) inhibits various cancer cells and possesses anti-inflammatory activities. NF-kB has been shown to regulate the expression of genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) by upregulation of TWIST1. This study aimed to assess whether ChR can inhibit EMT phenotype and cancer stem-like cell (CSLC) features in ovarian cancer cells co-treated with TNF-α and TGF-ß. Here, OVCAR-3 cells were co-treated with TNF-α and TGF-ß in the presence or absence of ChR. Then, the expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, CD133, CD44, NF-κBp65, and TWIST1 were analyzed by western blotting. Wound healing and tumor sphere formation assays were performed to assess the migration and sphere-forming capabilities of cells, respectively. Overexpression and/or knockdown of NF-κBp65 and/or TWIST1 were used to explore the molecular mechanisms. We showed that ChR inhibited EMT and CSLC properties in ovarian cancer cells administered TNF-α after prolonged TGF-ß treatment, in a dose-dependent manner. Also, knockdown of NF-κBp65 and ChR cooperatively enhanced the inhibition of NF-κBp65 and TWIST1 expression, EMT phenotype, and CSLC properties. Conversely, overexpression of NF-κBp65 antagonized the above-mentioned activities of ChR. Furthermore, TWIST1 silencing or overexpression did not affect the ChR treatment effect on NF-κBp65 levels, but it reduced or enhanced EMT and CSLC properties. In conclusion, ChR can inhibit a proinflammatory cytokine to induce EMT and CSLC characteristics in OVCAR-3 cells, which may be involved in blocking the NF-κB/Twist axis.

Stabilizing and destabilizing protein surfactant-based foams in the presence of a chemical surfactant: Effect of adsorption kinetics.

Stimuli-responsive protein surfactants promise alternative foaming materials that can be made from renewable sources. However, the cost of protein surfactants is still higher than their chemical counterparts. In order to reduce the required amount of protein surfactant for foaming, we investigated the foaming and adsorption properties of the protein surfactant, DAMP4, with addition of low concentrations of the chemical surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). The results show that the small addition of SDS can enhance foaming functions of DAMP4 at a lowered protein concentration. Dynamic surface tension measurements suggest that there is a synergy between DAMP4 and SDS which enhances adsorption kinetics of DAMP4 at the initial stage of adsorption (first 60s), which in turn stabilizes protein foams. Further interfacial properties were revealed by X-ray reflectometry measurements, showing that there is a re-arrangement of adsorbed protein-surfactant layer over a long period of 1h. Importantly, the foaming switchability of DAMP4 by metal ions is not affected by the presence of SDS, and foams can be switched off by the addition of zinc ions at permissive pH. This work provides fundamental knowledge to guide formulation using a mixture of protein and chemical surfactants towards a high performance of foaming at a low cost.

Dual-responsive shape memory hydrogels with novel thermoplasticity based on a hydrophobically modified polyampholyte.

Shape memory hydrogels offer the ability to recover their permanent shape from temporarily trapped shapes without application of external forces. Here, we report a novel dual-responsive shape memory hydrogel with characteristic thermoplasticity. The water-insoluble hydrogel is prepared by simple ternary copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and acrylic acid (AA) with low amounts of a cationic surfmer, in the absence of organic crosslinkers. Through either ionic/complex binding of carboxyl groups via trivalent cations or salt-dependent hydrophobic association, the hydrogel can memorize a temporary shape successfully, which recovers its permanent form in the presence of a reducing agent or deionized water. Besides, the unique thermoplasticity of the hydrophobic polyampholyte hydrogel allows the change of its permanent shape upon heating and the fixation after cooling, which is in strong contrast to the conventional chemically cross-linked shape memory hydrogels. This fascinating feature undoubtedly enriches the shape memory hydrogel systems. Thus, we believe that the facile strategy could provide new opportunities with regard to the design and practical application of stimulus-responsive hydrogel systems.

Shape Memory Hydrogel based on a Hydrophobically-Modified Polyacrylamide (HMPAM)/α-CD Mixture via a Host-Guest Approach.

A novel thermally sensitive shape memory (SM) hydrogel is prepared by block copoly-merization of a cationic surfactant monomer, dimethylhexadecyl[2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate]ammoniumbromide (C(16)DMAEMA), and acrylamide (AM) in the presence of α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. XRD, solid state (13)C NMR, and DSC measurements show that the crystalline domains, induced by the hydrogen bonds between α-CDs threaded on the hydrophobic units of the polymer chains through the host-guest approach, can reversibly melt and crystallize at different temperatures. Rheological measurements show that both the elastic modulus G' and viscous modulus G'' drastically change due to the formation and dissolution of the crystalline domains. These thermo-sensitive crystalline domains serve as reversible physical crosslinks, endowing the hydrogel with excellent SM properties. Cyclic experiments show that the hydrogel can recover to almost 100% of the deformation in each cycle and can be reused several times.

A shape memory hydrogel induced by the interactions between metal ions and phosphate.

A novel ferric-phosphate induced shape memory (SM) hydrogel is prepared by the one-step copolymerization of isopropenyl phosphonic acid (IPPA) and acrylamide (AM) in the presence of a crosslinker polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA). Different from the traditional SM hydrogels, our SM hydrogel can be processed into various shapes as needed and recovers to its original form in 'multiconditions' such as in the presence of a reducing agent or in the presence of a competitive complexing agent. This unique feature is attributed to the fact that the oxidized ferric ions show a high complexation ability with phosphate groups of IPPA, which acts as a physical crosslinker to form the secondary networks within the hydrogels to induce the shape memory effect. The memory behavior was totally reversible, owing to Fe3+ that can be reduced to Fe2+ and extracted by the complexing agent. Particularly, the SM hydrogels exhibit controllable and good mechanical characteristics by introduction of the ferric ions, i.e., the elastic modulus can increase from 2 kPa to 70 kPa dramatically. Learning from biological systems, phosphate-metal ion based hydrogels could become an attractive candidate for various biomedical and environmental applications.

[Yeast cell surface display and its application of enzymatic synthesis in non-aqueous phase].

Yeast surface display involves that the exogenous protein, which was fused with the yeast outer shell cell wall protein, was genetically anchored on the yeast cell surface. It has been widely used in expression and screening of functional protein. Here, we focused on the construction of lipase-displaying systems and its application in enzymatic biosynthesis, such as fatty acid methyl esters, short-chain flavour esters and sugar esters applications, and so on.

[Induction of apoptosis of human ovarian cancer CoC1 cells by 5-allyl-7-gen-difluoromethylenechrysin through activation of peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor-gamma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate induction of apoptosis of human ovarian cancer CoC1 cells by 5-Allyl-7-Gen-Difluoromethylenechrysin (ADFMChR) in vitro, and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: The proliferative inhibition of CoC1 cells treated with ADFMChR was measured using (3, 4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay. The apoptosis of CoC1 cells induced by ADFMChR was determined by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis assay and flow cytometry using PI staining. Effect of ADFMChR on PPARgamma, NF-kappaB, Bcl-2, Bax protein expression level of CoC1 cells was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: The proliferation of CoC1 cells could be significantly inhibited by ADFMChR in a dose-dependent manner, The IC(50) was 7.76 micromol/L. ADFMChR significantly induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent, the rate of apoptosis was 33.07% and 73.70% respectively after treatment with 10.0, 30.0 micromol/L of ADFMChR for 48 h, which was higher than either the control group (21.70%, 40.00%) at the same concentration ChR-treated cells. The ladder-shaped band could be shown in DNA agarose gel electrophoresis after treatment with ADFMChR at 30.0 micromol/L for 48 h and the ladder-shape band disappeared with GW9662. Western Blot analysis shown that expression of PPARgamma and Bax proteins were upregulation and protein levels of NF-kappaB and Bcl-2 were depress after treatment with ADFMChR in a concentration-dependent. CONCLUSION: The effect of ADFMChR on induction of apoptosis in CoC1 cells may be mediated by activation of PPARgamma, sequentially accompanied by reducing of protein levels of NF-kappaB and Bcl-2 and increasing of Bax expression.