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This study investigated the influence of co-regulation on public speaking self-efficacy in the context of collaborative oral presentations. A total of 237 students enrolled in an English course at a university in China took part in the research. The factor analysis findings revealed that learners' co-regulation in public speaking encompass five components: co-planning, co-monitoring, co-evaluation, effort regulation, and help-seeking. Public speaking self-efficacy, on the other hand, pertains to learners' confidence in aspects including the topic, language use, organization, and delivery during public speaking engagements. The path analysis demonstrated that co-planning was a significant predictor of students' self-efficacy in terms of the topic and organization. Moreover, the co-monitoring strategy exhibited direct and positive correlations with language and topic self-efficacy. Similarly, the co-evaluation strategy showed direct and positive relationships with language, delivery, and organization self-efficacy. Furthermore, both effort regulation and help-seeking strategies were found to have direct and positive impacts on organization self-efficacy. This study offers valuable implications for educators, trainers, and individuals aiming to enhance their public speaking self-efficacy in collaborative environments.

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A straightforward and eco-friendly preparation method for porous sludge biochar (SBA-3) was developed to deodorize gaseous dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) using ion exchange to adjust micropore structures coupled with carboxyl functionalization. Compared with the unmodified sludge biochar SBA-1 and SBA-2 treated with ion exchange, the pore size of SBA-3 decreased accompanied with increasing specific surface area and micropore volume. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area and micropore volume were 176.35 m2 g-1 and 0.0314 cm³ g-1, which were 2.02 and 1.71-fold larger than those of SBA-2, as well as 20.60 and 78.5-fold larger than those of SBA-1, respectively. Meanwhile, the amount of -COOH on the surface of SBA-3 increased from 0.425 to 1.123 mmol g-1, which was 2.64-fold larger than that of SBA-1. The adsorption behavior between DMDS and SBA-3 could be well described by the quasi-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was 35.12 mg g-1 at 303 K. Thermodynamic and DFT calculations indicated that the adsorption of DMDS on SBA-3 was exothermic with the deodorization mechanisms involving pore filling and chemisorption.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune and inflammatory disease characterized by inflammation and hyperplasia of the synovial tissues. RA pathogenesis involves multiple cell types, genes, transcription factors (TFs) and networks. Yet, little is known about the TFs, and key drivers and networks regulating cell function and disease at the synovial tissue level, which is the site of disease. In the present study, we used available RNA-seq databases generated from synovial tissues and developed a novel approach to elucidate cell type-specific regulatory networks on synovial tissue genes in RA. We leverage established computational methodologies to infer sample-specific gene regulatory networks and applied statistical methods to compare network properties across phenotypic groups (RA versus osteoarthritis). We developed computational approaches to rank TFs based on their contribution to the observed phenotypic differences between RA and controls across different cell types. We identified 18 (fibroblast-like synoviocyte), 16 (T cells), 19 (B cells) and 11 (monocyte) key regulators in RA synovial tissues. Interestingly, fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) and B cells were driven by multiple independent co-regulatory TF clusters that included MITF, HLX, BACH1 (FLS) and KLF13, FOSB, FOSL1 (B cells). However, monocytes were collectively governed by a single cluster of TF drivers, responsible for the main phenotypic differences between RA and controls, which included RFX5, IRF9, CREB5. Among several cell subset and pathway changes, we also detected reduced presence of Natural killer T (NKT) cells and eosinophils in RA synovial tissues. Overall, our novel approach identified new and previously unsuspected Key driver genes (KDG), TF and networks and should help better understanding individual cell regulation and co-regulatory networks in RA pathogenesis, as well as potentially generate new targets for treatment.

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In spite of the increasing popularity of project-based collaborative learning (PBCL) as a pedagogy, real successful collaboration cannot always be achieved due to the cognitive, motivational and social emotional challenges students encounter during collaboration. Recognizing the challenges and developing regulation strategies to cope with the challenges at both individual and group level is essential for successful collaboration. In the last decades, a growing interest has been developed around socially shared regulation of emotions and how it is interwoven with self-regulation and co-regulation. However, capturing the process of students' emotional challenges and regulations in a long and dynamic project proves difficult and there remains a paucity of evidence on how co-regulation and socially-shared regulation co-occur with learners' cognitive and emotional progress in project-based collaborative learning. The purpose of the present study is to investigate and identify what kind of social emotional challenges students encountered during PBCL and how they regulate themselves and the groups in order to finish the projects. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted in an academic English classroom, with thirty-eight students self-reporting their challenges and regulations three times after finishing each of the projects. The results of qualitative analysis plus a case study of two groups indicate that students encounter a variety of social emotional challenges and employed different levels of co-regulation and socially shared regulation in addition to self-regulation, leading to varying collaboration results and experiences. The findings of the study offer insights into the emotional regulation in PBCL and shed light for future design of pedagogical interventions aiming at supporting socially shared regulation.

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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is being embraced as the most important medicinal plant and the commercial source of saffron spice. Despite the beneficial economic and medicinal properties of saffron, the regulatory mechanism of the correlation of TFs and genes related to the biosynthesis of the apocarotenoids pathway is less obvious. Realizing these regulatory hierarchies of gene expression networks related to secondary metabolites production events is the main challenge owing to the complex and extensive interactions between the genetic behaviors. Recently, high throughput expression data have been highly feasible for constructing co-regulation networks to reveal the regulated processes and identifying novel candidate hub genes in response to complex processes of the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Herein, we performed Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), a systems biology method, to identify 11 regulated modules and hub TFs related to secondary metabolites. Three specialized modules were found in the apocarotenoids pathway. Several hub TFs were identified in notable modules, including MADS, C2H2, ERF, bZIP, HD-ZIP, and zinc finger protein MYB and HB, which were potentially associated with apocarotenoid biosynthesis. Furthermore, the expression levels of six hub TFs and six co-regulated genes of apocarotenoids were validated with RT-qPCR. The results confirmed that hub TFs specially MADS, C2H2, and ERF had a high correlation (P < 0.05) and a positive effect on genes under their control in apocarotenoid biosynthesis (CCD2, GLT2, and ADH) among different C. sativus ecotypes in which the metabolite contents were assayed. Promoter analysis of the co-expressed genes of the modules involved in apocarotenoids biosynthesis pathway suggested that not only are the genes co-expressed, but also share common regulatory motifs specially related to hub TFs of each module and that they may describe their common regulation. The result can be used to engineer valuable secondary metabolites of C. sativus by manipulating the hub regulatory TFs.

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Mammalian cochlear hair cells (HCs) are essential for hearing, and damage to HCs results in severe hearing impairment. Damaged HCs can be regenerated by neighboring supporting cells (SCs), thus the functional regeneration of HCs is the main goal for the restoration of auditory function in vivo. Here, cochlear SC trans-differentiation into outer and inner HC by the induced expression of the key transcription factors Atoh1 and its co-regulators Gfi1, Pou4f3, and Six1 (GPAS), which are necessary for SCs that are destined for HC development and maturation via the AAV-ie targeting the inner ear stem cells are successfully achieved. Single-cell nuclear sequencing and lineaging tracing results showed that the majority of new Atoh1-derived HCs are in a state of initiating differentiation, while GP (Gfi1, Pou4f3) and GPS (Gfi1, Pou4f3, and Six1) enhanced the Atoh1-induced new HCs into inner and outer HCs. Moreover, the patch-clamp analysis indicated that newborn inner HCs induced by GPAS forced expression have similar electrophysiological characteristics to those of native inner HCs. Also, GPAS can induce HC regeneration in the HC-damaged mice model. In summary, the study demonstrates that AAV-mediated co-regulation of multiple genes, such as GPAS, is an effective means to achieve functional HC regeneration in the mouse cochlea.

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This study presents the interaction with the human host metabolism of SARS-CoV-2 ORF7b protein (43 aa), using a protein-protein interaction network analysis. After pruning, we selected from BioGRID the 51 most significant proteins among 2753 proven interactions and 1708 interactors specific to ORF7b. We used these proteins as functional seeds, and we obtained a significant network of 551 nodes via STRING. We performed topological analysis and calculated topological distributions by Cytoscape. By following a hub-and-spoke network architectural model, we were able to identify seven proteins that ranked high as hubs and an additional seven as bottlenecks. Through this interaction model, we identified significant GO-processes (5057 terms in 15 categories) induced in human metabolism by ORF7b. We discovered high statistical significance processes of dysregulated molecular cell mechanisms caused by acting ORF7b. We detected disease-related human proteins and their involvement in metabolic roles, how they relate in a distorted way to signaling and/or functional systems, in particular intra- and inter-cellular signaling systems, and the molecular mechanisms that supervise programmed cell death, with mechanisms similar to that of cancer metastasis diffusion. A cluster analysis showed 10 compact and significant functional clusters, where two of them overlap in a Giant Connected Component core of 206 total nodes. These two clusters contain most of the high-rank nodes. ORF7b acts through these two clusters, inducing most of the metabolic dysregulation. We conducted a co-regulation and transcriptional analysis by hub and bottleneck proteins. This analysis allowed us to define the transcription factors and miRNAs that control the high-ranking proteins and the dysregulated processes within the limits of the poor knowledge that these sectors still impose.

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Rubisco activase (Rca) is an essential photosynthetic enzyme that removes inhibitors from the catalytic sites of the carboxylating enzyme Rubisco. In wheat, Rca is composed of one longer 46 kDa α-isoform and two shorter 42 kDa ß-isoforms encoded by the genes TaRca1 and TaRca2. TaRca1 produces a single transcript from which a short 1ß-isoform is expressed, whereas two alternative transcripts are generated from TaRca2 directing expression of either a long 2α-isoform or a short 2ß-isoform. The 2ß isoform is similar but not identical to 1ß. Here, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was used to silence the different TaRca transcripts. Abundance of the transcripts and the respective protein isoforms was then evaluated in the VIGS-treated and control plants. Remarkably, treatment with the construct specifically targeting TaRca1 efficiently decreased expression not only of TaRca1 but also of the two alternative TaRca2 transcripts. Similarly, specific targeting of the TaRca2 transcript encoding a long isoform TaRca2α resulted in silencing of both TaRca2 alternative transcripts. The corresponding protein isoforms decreased in abundance. These findings indicate concomitant down-regulation of TaRca1 and TaRca2 at both transcript and protein levels and may impact the feasibility of altering the relative abundance of Rca isoforms in wheat.

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LAY ABSTRACT: Managing negative emotion can be challenging for autistic individuals and their families from a young age. Parents help young children manage negative emotions by responding in comforting or supportive ways. Not much research has examined how negative emotions and parent responses to negative emotions are different in very young autistic children. This study used videotapes of 18-month-old toddlers and parents at home. We examined how much and how intensely toddlers expressed negative emotion in everyday situations, and how parents responded. Participants were younger siblings of autistic children, and we compared three groups-children that (1) later received an autism diagnosis; (2) had language delays but not autism; and (3) had no delays or autism. We found that autistic toddlers' negative emotion was more likely to be intense and to continue once it started compared with children without delays or autism. Language-delayed toddlers also showed some, but not all these differences. Parents responded similarly to negative emotions in all groups. When parents used strategies to help, it reduced the chances of the negative emotions continuing, although it may have been less helpful for autistic toddlers. This study shows that autistic children may express more intense and long-lasting negative emotions from an early age. It also shows that parents of autistic children are very responsive to their children's negative emotions, but these responses may not be as helpful to autistic children. While more research is needed, this study helps us understand how autistic toddlers may express and experience emotions differently.

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This study, conducted in Germany, examines the role of maternal soothing strategies to explain the association of maternal self-efficacy with infant regulation (crying and sleeping behavior). Questionnaire data of 150 mothers, living in Germany, with mixed ethnic and educational backgrounds were collected when infants were 3 and 7 months old. Two types of maternal soothing strategies were distinguished: close soothing, involving close physical and emotional contact, and distant soothing, involving physical and emotional distancing from the infant. A cross-sectional SEM at 3 months indicated that maternal self-efficacy is associated with reported infant regulation through distant soothing strategies. Low maternal self-efficacy was associated with frequent maternal use of distant soothing, which in turn was related to reported infant regulation problems, that is, non-soothability and greater crying frequency. Frequent use of close soothing was associated with reported infant sleeping behavior, that is, frequent night-time awakenings. A longitudinal SEM further indicated that the effects of close soothing persisted at least until the infants' age of 7 months. The study showed how low maternal self-efficacy, increased use of distant soothing, and reported early infant regulation problems are intertwined and that, due to their persisting positive effect on infant soothability, close soothing better supports infant development.

Este estudio examina el papel de las estrategias calmantes maternas para explicar la asociación entre auto efectividad materna y la regulación del infante (comportamiento de llanto y de dormir). Información de cuestionario de N = 150 madres de trasfondos étnicos y educativos mixtos se recogió cuando los infantes tenían tres y siete meses de nacidos. Dos tipos de estrategias calmantes maternas se identificaron: estrategia calmante cercana, la cual trata del contacto físico y emocional cercano, y estrategia calmante distante, la cual trata del distanciamiento físico y emocional con el infante. Un estudio de Modelo de Ecuación Estructural (SEM) transversal a los tres meses indicó que la auto efectividad materna se asocia con la reportada regulación del infante a través de estrategias calmantes distantes. La baja auto efectividad materna se asoció con el frecuente uso materno de estrategias calmantes distantes, lo cual a su vez se relacionó con los reportados problemas de regulación del infante, tales como el no calmarse y la mayor frecuencia del llanto. El uso frecuente de estrategias calmante cercanas se asoció con el reportado comportamiento de dormir del infante, tal como el frecuente despertar nocturno. Un estudio de tipo SEM longitudinal indicó más allá que los efectos de las estrategias calmantes cercanas persistían por lo menos hasta que los infantes tenían siete meses de edad. El estudio mostró cómo la baja auto efectividad materna, el uso incrementado de estrategias calmantes distantes, así como los reportados tempranos problemas de regulación del infante están entremezclados y que, debido a su persistente efecto positivo en calmar al infante, las estrategias calmantes cercanas apoyan mejor el desarrollo del infante.

Cette étude examine le rôle des stratégies maternelles d'apaisement pour expliquer le lien de l'auto-efficacité maternelle avec la régulation du nourrisson (pleurs et comportement du sommeil). Des données d'une questionnaire de N = 150 mères issues de milieux ethniques et éducationnels différents ont été recueillies quand les nourrissons avaient trois et sept mois. Deux types de stratégies maternelles d'apaisement ont été distingués: l'apaisement proche, avec un contact physique et émotionnel proche, et l'apaisement distant, avec une distanciation physique et émotionnelle du nourrisson. Une coupe transversale SEM à trois mois a indiqué que l'auto-efficacité maternelle est liée à la régulation infantile signalée au travers de stratégies d'apaisement distantes. Une auto-efficacité maternelle faible était liée à l'utilisation maternelle fréquente de stratégies d'apaisement, qui à son tour était liée aux problèmes signalés de régulation du nourrisson, comme par exemple le fait de ne pas pouvoir être apaisé ou une fréquence de pleurs plus grande. L'utilisation fréquente de stratégies d'apaisement proche était liée au comportement de sommeil du nourrisson signalé, comme par exemple des réveils nocturnes fréquents. Un SEM longitudinal a de surcroit indiqué que les effets de stratégies d'apaisement proches persistaient au moins jusqu'à l'âge de sept mois des nourrissons. L'étude a montré comment l'auto-efficacité maternelle faible, une utilisation accrue de stratégies d'apaisement distant et les problèmes signalés de régulation précoce des nourrissons sont imbriqués et que, du fait de leur effet positif persistant sur l'apaisement du nourrisson, les stratégies d'apaisement proches soutiennent mieux le développement du nourrisson.

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Abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) belong to the category of neurodevelopmental disorders. ASD emerges in early childhood and involves deficits in communication, language, behavioural inflexibility and fixity, and sensorial neurodivergent perception. ASDs have a biological pathogenesis related to genetic and epigenetic factors. Additionally, research has shown that starting from childhood, autistic persons could find emotional regulation challenging during communication with caregivers. The importance of emotional co-regulation has always been under-lined in psychology, starting with Freud who introduced the concept of the Compassionate Other. Emotional difficulties are grasped immediately and almost instinctively by parents, who try to modulate their approach to the child's needs from the very beginning. This paper seeks to highlight the importance of emotional co-regulation as a wake-up call-in developmental trajectories that present peculiarities or anomalies. It also emphasizes the significance of emotional co-regulation as a useful tool for intervening in the dysfun-ctionality of such trajectories. This intervention aims to directly involve parents in treatment, as seen in Cooperative parent-mediated therapy. This approach is crucial for facilitating the evolution of the cognitive framework while utilizing this target. This article aims to review the most recent literature on co-regulation after explaining the theoretical framework that gave rise to this concept. It's now well established the importance of adopting a develop-mental approach that starts from the bodily dimension as the basis for the relationship with caregivers, pairs, and unfamiliar people. It is from this basis that starts the affective, emotional, and cognitive construction of the internal and external world of the child. This scoping review takes into account the most recent evidence on co-regulation and autism, emphasizing the importance of this process in diagnostic and therapeutic settings.

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Millions of RNA sequencing samples have been deposited into public databases, providing a rich resource for biological research. These datasets encompass tens of thousands of experiments and offer comprehensive insights into human cellular regulation. However, a major challenge is how to integrate these experiments that acquired at different conditions. We propose a new statistical tool based on beta-binomial distributions that can construct robust gene co-regulation network (CoRegNet) across tens of thousands of experiments. Our analysis of over 12 000 experiments involving human tissues and cells shows that CoRegNet significantly outperforms existing gene co-expression-based methods. Although the majority of the genes are linearly co-regulated, we did discover an interesting set of genes that are non-linearly co-regulated; half of the time they change in the same direction and the other half they change in the opposite direction. Additionally, we identified a set of gene pairs that follows the Simpson's paradox. By utilizing public domain data, CoRegNet offers a powerful approach for identifying functionally related gene pairs, thereby revealing new biological insights.

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Interpersonal physiological synchrony and collaboration in educational contexts have been identified as key aspects of the learning environment to foster critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and shared knowledge construction and learning of students. In addition to this, teachers' support and interaction with students result in a protective factor for students' well-being and academic outcomes. The main aim of this systematic review was to explore if and how teachers' support and relationship with students can affect their use of Socially Shared Regulatory Strategies for Learning (SSRL). Studies were identified in six electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL and ERIC) following PRISMA guidelines. The initial search yielded a total of 110 records. Fifty-nine studies were fully reviewed, and 16 studies met all inclusion criteria and formed the basis for the review. Studies were analyzed and teachers' support strategies to enhance SSRL were identified and recorded. This review identifies a range of teachers' strategies that may foster students' SSRL, such as prompting and moving from one group to another, helping and checking the groups' progress, especially in primary and secondary school; flipped classrooms at university level. The results of this systematic review may inform teachers, educational practitioners, the general public and the design of individualized educational interventions aimed at improving teacher-child relationships, their well-being and academic performance.

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Metformin is commonly used, but approximately 20% of patients experience gastrointestinal intolerance, leading to medication discontinuation for unclear reasons and a lack of effective management strategies. In this study, the 18 fecal and blood samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA and mRNA transcriptome, respectively. These samples included 3 fecal and 4 blood from metformin-tolerant T2D patients before and after metformin treatment (T and Ta), 3 fecal and 5 blood from metformin-intolerant T2D patients before and after treatment (TS and TSa), and 6 fecal samples from healthy controls. The results showed that certain anti-inflammatory gut bacteria and gene, such as Barnesiella (p = 0.046), Parabacteroides goldsteinii (p = 0.016), and the gene JUND (p = 0.0002), exhibited higher levels in metformin-intolerant patients, and which decreased after metformin treatment (p < 0.05). This potentially invalidates patients' anti-inflammatory effect and intestinal mucus barrier protection, which may lead to alterations in intestinal permeability, decreased gut barrier function, and gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, bloating, and nausea. After metformin treatment, primary bile acids (PBAs) production species: Weissella confusa, Weissella paramesenteroides, Lactobacillus brevis, and Lactobacillus plantarum increased (p < 0.05). The species converting PBAs to secondary bile acids (SBAs): Parabacteroides distasonis decreased (p < 0.05). This might result in accumulation of PBAs, which also may lead to anti-inflammatory gene JUND and SQSTM1 downregulated. In conclusion, this study suggests that metformin intolerance may be attributed to a decrease in anti-inflammatory-related flora and genes, and also alterations in PBAs accumulation-related flora. These findings open up possibilities for future research targeting gut flora and host genes to prevent metformin intolerance.

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Introduction: Toddlers rely on their caregivers for regulatory support when faced with pain-related distress. The caregiver's ability to support their toddler relies on their capacity to regulate their own distress and respond effectively to the child's need for support. The aim of the current study was to describe patterns of caregiver-toddler physiological co-regulatory patterns, also known as attunement, during routine vaccinations across the second year of life. Methods: Caregiver-toddler dyads (N = 189) were part of a longitudinal cohort observed at either 12-, 18-, or 24-month well-baby vaccinations. Parallel-process growth-mixture modeling was used to examine patterns of dyadic physiological co-regulatory responses, indexed by high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV). Results: Three groups of dyads were discerned. The largest group (approximately 80%) demonstrated physiological attunement, with a stable and parallel regulatory pattern of HF-HRV from baseline to postneedle. The second group (7.9%) had parallel regulatory trajectories but with notably lower (ie, less regulated) HF-HRV values, which indicates independent regulatory responses (ie, a lack of attunement among dyad members). The third group (11.1%) showed diverging regulatory trajectories: Caregivers showed a stable regulatory trajectory, but toddlers demonstrated a steep decrease followed by an increase in HF-HRV values that surpassed their baseline levels by the third minute postneedle. Post hoc analyses with the HF-HRV groupings explored heart rate patterns and potential predictors. Conclusions: These findings elucidate potential adaptive and maladaptive co-regulatory parasympathetic patterns in an acute pain context.

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BACKGROUND: Early life stress and adversity conveys risk for emotional, behavioral, and developmental disorders. To address this risk in the preschool population, Mother-Child Emotional Preparation (MCEP) was tested as an in-school dyadic intervention for facilitating mother-child emotional connection through mother-child calming cycles. In a computer-generated block randomized controlled trial enrolling preschool-aged children and their mothers, in partnership with an early childhood learning center, we at Columbia University Irving Medical Center tested effects of MCEP across multiple domains. Within this RCT we designed a qualitative sub-study to understand how MCEP aligns with calming cycle theory and its impact on mothers and the mother-child relationship. METHODS: A qualitative researcher observed 14 group MCEP sessions consisting of nurture specialists facilitating reciprocal calming interactions through shared emotional expression between mothers and their preschool-aged children. We conducted two waves of participant interviews in English or Spanish, per participant preference. Participants (n = 8) were majority Hispanic at or below the federal poverty level. Group session observations were coded and analyzed for frequency, co-occurrence, variance by session, and alignment with calming cycle theory, incorporating demographic variables and attendance. Interview transcripts were translated from Spanish to English if needed, then coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis revealed mothers' experiences of MCEP. Data demonstrated that calming position and emotional expression were mutually supportive, and that barriers to connection were calming cycle entry-points, not barriers. At the group level, supported by nurture specialists, fellow participants helped each other progress through calming cycles. Moreover, MCEP adapted to meet individual dyad needs, and mothers described its far-reaching impact. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative methods show that MCEP helps mother-child dyads emotionally connect through the calming cycle and fills a gap in early childhood education services. This study generated insights for quantitative studies and suggested implications for MCEP dissemination. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03908268 , Registered April 9, 2019-Retrospectively registered.

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The programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 axis plays an important role in the adaptive immune system and has influence on neoplastic and inflammatory diseases, while its role in multiple sclerosis is unclear. Here, we aimed to analyse expression patterns of programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed cell death ligand 1 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and their soluble variants in multiple sclerosis patients and controls, to determine their correlation with clinical disability and disease activity. In a cross-sectional study, we performed in-depth flow cytometric immunophenotyping of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and analysed soluble programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed cell death ligand 1 serum levels in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and controls. In comparison to control subjects, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients displayed distinct cellular programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 expression patterns in immune cell subsets and increased soluble programmed cell death ligand 1 levels, which correlated with clinical measures of disability and MRI activity over time. This study extends our knowledge of how programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed cell death ligand 1 are expressed in the membranes of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and describes for the first time the elevation of soluble programmed cell death ligand 1 in the blood of multiple sclerosis patients. The distinct expression pattern of membrane-bound programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed cell death ligand 1 and the correlation between soluble programmed cell death ligand 1, membrane-bound programmed cell death ligand 1, disease and clinical factors may offer therapeutic potential in the setting of multiple sclerosis and might improve future diagnosis and clinical decision-making.

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Aflatoxins are toxic fungal metabolites that occur naturally in the field among cereals, oilseeds, and nuts that may increase during storage. Texas grown maize, commonly referred as corn, has some of the highest aflatoxin levels in the US. In 2011, the Office of the Texas State Chemist (OTSC) collaborated with the Risk Management Agency (RMA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas grain industry to implement the state's first co-regulation governance option to manage aflatoxin risk. Co-regulation is a form of risk management that relies upon a government-private partnership in regulation; utilizing government-backed codes of practice that result in a more connected and transparent marketplace. To measure the economic benefit of co-regulation to manage aflatoxin risk, interviews were conducted among twenty-seven participants in the OTSC aflatoxin co-regulation program who represented 31% of the grain companies that handled maize contaminated by aflatoxin according to Texas Commercial Feed Rules. A comparative approach was used by gathering evidence from 2010 to 2018, in order to evaluate the results before and after the OTSC implemented its co-regulation strategy. The results were evaluated by using the data gathered from the interviews to measure the specific costs and benefits incurred by producers and grain handlers. The findings were modeled in the form of an income statement. From the income statement, the total economic benefit of the One Sample Strategy in 2018 was $14,572,180. This study provides a more realistic characterization of cost drivers associated with aflatoxin risk management and counters exaggerated economic losses associated with aflatoxin in maize from prior studies.

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Kinases are key players in cancer-relevant pathways and are the targets of many successful precision cancer therapies. Phosphoproteomics is a powerful approach to study kinase activity and has been used increasingly for the characterization of tumor samples leading to the identification of novel chemotherapeutic targets and biomarkers. Finding co-regulated phosphorylation sites which represent potential kinase-substrate sets or members of the same signaling pathway allows us to harness these data to identify clinically relevant and targetable alterations in signaling cascades. Unfortunately, studies have found that databases of co-regulated phosphorylation sites are only experimentally supported in a small number of substrate sets. To address the inherent challenge of defining co-regulated phosphorylation modules relevant to a given dataset, we developed PhosphoDisco, a toolkit for determining co-regulated phosphorylation modules. We applied this approach to tandem mass spectrometry based phosphoproteomic data for breast and non-small cell lung cancer and identified canonical as well as putative new phosphorylation site modules. Our analysis identified several interesting modules in each cohort. Among these was a new cell cycle checkpoint module enriched in basal breast cancer samples and a module of PRKC isozymes putatively co-regulated by CDK12 in lung cancer. We demonstrate that modules defined by PhosphoDisco can be used to further personalized cancer treatment strategies by establishing active signaling pathways in a given patient tumor or set of tumors, and in providing new ways to classify tumors based on signaling activity.

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Artificial yarn muscles show great potential in applications requiring low-energy consumption while maintaining high performance. However, conventional designs have been limited by weak ion-yarn muscle interactions and inefficient "rocking-chair" ion migration. To address these limitations, we present an electrochemical artificial yarn muscle design driven by a dual-ion co-regulation system. By utilizing two reaction channels, this system shortens ion migration pathways, leading to faster and more efficient actuation. During the charging/discharging process, [Formula: see text] ions react with carbon nanotube yarn, while Li+ ions react with an Al foil. The intercalation reaction between [Formula: see text] and collapsed carbon nanotubes allows the yarn muscle to achieve an energy-free high-tension catch state. The dual-ion coordinated yarn muscles exhibit superior contractile stroke, maximum contractile rate, and maximum power densities, exceeding those of "rocking-chair" type ion migration yarn muscles. The dual-ion co-regulation system enhances the ion migration rate during actuation, resulting in improved performance. Moreover, the yarn muscles can withstand high levels of isometric stress, displaying a stress of 61 times that of skeletal muscles and 8 times that of "rocking-chair" type yarn muscles at higher frequencies. This technology holds significant potential for various applications, including prosthetics and robotics.