Contemporary strategies and approaches for characterizing composition and enhancing biofilm penetration targeting bacterial extracellular polymeric substances

Extracellular polymeric substances(EPS)constitutes crucial elements within bacterial biofilms,facili-tating accelerated antimicrobial resistance and conferring defense against the host's immune cells.Developing precise and effective antibiofilm approaches and strategies,tailored to the specific charac-teristics of EPS composition,can offer valuable insights for the creation of novel antimicrobial drugs.This,in turn,holds the potential to mitigate the alarming issue of bacterial drug resistance.Current analysis of EPS compositions relies heavily on colorimetric approaches with a significant bias,which is likely due to the selection of a standard compound and the cross-interference of various EPS compounds.Considering the pivotal role of EPS in biofilm functionality,it is imperative for EPS research to delve deeper into the analysis of intricate compositions,moving beyond the current focus on polymeric materials.This ne-cessitates a shift from heavy reliance on colorimetric analytic methods to more comprehensive and nuanced analytical approaches.In this study,we have provided a comprehensive summary of existing analytical methods utilized in the characterization of EPS compositions.Additionally,novel strategies aimed at targeting EPS to enhance biofilm penetration were explored,with a specific focus on high-lighting the limitations associated with colorimetric methods.Furthermore,we have outlined the challenges faced in identifying additional components of EPS and propose a prospective research plan to address these challenges.This review has the potential to guide future researchers in the search for novel compounds capable of suppressing EPS,thereby inhibiting biofilm formation.This insight opens up a new avenue for exploration within this research domain.

Optimizing a Transportation System Using Metaheuristics Approaches (EGD/GA/ACO): A Forest Vehicle Routing Case Study

The large-scale optimization problem requires some optimization techniques, and the Metaheuristics approach is highly useful for solving difficult optimization problems in practice. The purpose of the research is to optimize the transportation system with the help of this approach. We selected forest vehicle routing data as the case study to minimize the total cost and the distance of the forest transportation system. Matlab software helps us find the best solution for this case by applying three algorithms of Metaheuristics: Genetic Algorithm (GA), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), and Extended Great Deluge (EGD). The results show that GA, compared to ACO and EGD, provides the best solution for the cost and the length of our case study. EGD is the second preferred approach, and ACO offers the last solution.

On the Application of Task-based Language Teaching Approach to English Phonetic Teaching

Task-based language teaching approach(TBLTA), which lays stress on "learning by doing", gained increasing popularity in English teaching in recent years. The design of phonetic teaching calls for more emphasis from English educators since it is one of the basic rounds of English teaching. This paper made a trial on the utilization of TBLTA in the English phonetic teaching context and designed a TBLTA model for English phonetic teaching based on discussions about model and merits of TBLTA.

Task-Based Approach in Language Teaching

During recent years,some notions about tasks have been considered as the major part of analysis in different teaching approaches and teachers are being more interested in the use of taskbased approach both in foreign and in second language teaching.The main goal of this article is to introduce and discuss some major principles of task-based language teaching and indicates how teachers can apply them in their curriculum.

Task-Based Approach在高职英语专业《综合英语》中的应用

Task-Based Approach(TBA:任务型教学法)不仅有利于提高学生综合运用英语的能力,而且有助于培养学生的自主学习意识与合作精神.本文介绍了任务型语言教学法运用于高职英语专业《综合英语》教学的实施原则和教学模式.

On the Effects of Applying Task-based Approach to Business Oral English Teaching in Higher Vocational College

A teaching experiment was conducted to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of applying of Task-based approach(TBA) to business oral English teaching in higher vocational college.Instruments are tests and questionnaire for the experimental participants.Based on the data analysis,it can be concluded that TBA proves to be more effective especially compared with PPP approach.

Application of Task-based Approach in English Reading Classes in Senior Middle School

The traditional teaching approach is teacher-oriented,giving priority to grammar and lexical usage and neglecting the development of students’linguistic ability.The task-based approach is based on tasks and its prominent feature is"learning by doing and learning by using".By accomplishing tasks in target language,students can obtain linguistic knowledge and improve linguistic ability.This thesis is based on task-based approach,referring to English compulsory textbooks in senior middle school,exploring the application of task-based approach in intensive reading classes and providing case studies.

Application of Task-based Approach in College English Vocabulary Teaching

With the rapid development of economy and society,more and more people pay attention to English teaching.Vocabulary,the basic unit of language,is regarded as the center of language teaching by many linguists and educators.For Chinese students,vocabulary learning is also the most difficult and important problem in language learning.Unlike that in English-speaking countries,there is an absence of a foreign language environment for Chinese students,and most of their vocabulary is derived from classroom learning.Thus it is necessary to find an effective method to deal with vocabulary teaching.It analyzes college English vocabulary teaching,as college students have formed the corresponding language skills with more suitability.For a long time,students develop the habit of memorizing words repeatedly,consuming a lot of time,but the result is not satisfactory.Faced with this phenomenon,this paper analyzes the problems existing in College English vocabulary teaching and explores the reasons of the problems.Then it analyzes the application of task-based approach in college English vocabulary teaching.

Consideration on Vocational Students' Participation in Class:With Special Reference to Task-based Approach and Traditional Method

This paper covers an experimental study on vocational students' participation in the class under task-based approach and traditional grammar-translation teaching method.As vocational colleges in China have developed rapidly,teachers are still exploring and experimenting with different teaching approaches in order to find the suitable one(s).Using the theory of task-based approach,the grammartranslation method,the author conducts an experiment by recording.The following key issue has been addressed and some conclusive results have been made.The paper intends to find an answer to the following question:Under which teaching approach can students participate in the class more actively? Based on the above research work,the following result has been reached:Task-based approach can promote students' mastering of vocabulary and grammar,and students participate in the class more actively.The author would like to share her experiences with others in pedagogical studies of teaching vocational college students English.

Using Task-based Instruction Approach to Make Clear Communication

Unclear,ambiguous,poor communication is one of the causes of major marine disasters.To foster the students'commu-nicative competence,the task-based instruction theory was applied in the design of English for Specific Purpose(ESP)instruction.This paper explored the procedures in task-based language teaching and applied them in ESP class in a Chinese vocational institute.

Towards Innovative Research Approaches to Investigating the Role of Emotional Variables in Promoting Language Teachers’ and Learners’ Mental Health

The adequacy of language education largely depends on the favorable and unfavorable emotions that teachers and students experience throughout the education process.Simply said,emotional factors play a key role in improving the quality of language teaching and learning.Furthermore,these emotional factors also promote the well-being of language teachers and learners and place them in a suitable mental condition.In view of the favorable impact of emotional factors on the mental health of language teachers and learners,many educational scholars around the world have studied these factors,their background,and their pedagogical consequences.Nonetheless,the majority of previous studies have employed traditional research methods in assessing these variables and their influences on language teachers’and learners’mental health.Because of the complex and dynamic quality of emotional factors,traditional research approaches often fail to evaluate these factors and their dynamic,non-linear connections with teachers’and learners’mental health and well-being.Accordingly,some novel research approaches are required to measure the dynamicity and complexity of emotional factors in language education settings.To address this call,the current state-of-the-art conceptual article seeks to provide new insights for investigating emotional factors and their potential impact on language teachers’and learners’mental states.This study also intends to offer a comprehensive list of emerging methods that take into account the complex and dynamic nature of emotional variables.Finally,the study outlines the potential implications of this review for educational researchers.

Application of Task-based Teaching Approach to Business Oral English Teaching

Task-based teaching approach(TBTA) is widely accepted and plays a more important role in foreign language teach ing.This paper is aimed at analyzing specific task design and the application of task-based teaching approach to business oral Eng lish teaching.It briefly introduces what the task-based teaching approach is and Willis'model for TBTA.Based on this model,it probes deeply into the teaching tasks design and teaching procedures.By applying the task-based teaching approach in business oral English teaching,teachers can assign students various tasks in the class to not only arose students'interest in English but also develop their communicative competence of business English.

On the Application of Task-based Approach in English Listening Teaching at Middle Schools

In order to command a foreign language, it requires a balanced development in listening, speaking, reading and writing,which are four essential skills of language competence. Listening is not only a vital approach to acquire language, but also an important way to communicate with others in our daily life. The Task-based Approach(TBA) focuses on the specific task, which is the learning motivation. The process of finishing the task is the process of learning. The teaching result is judged by the task performed or not. This research discusses the application of TBA in English Listening Teaching at Middle Schools in order to improve the students listening ability. In the first part, the author introduces the background and significance of the research. In the second part, it states the definition of listening comprehension, the characteristics of listening process, three models of listening processing. In the third part, it introduces the definition of Task, characteristics of task, and the principles of designing a task. Finally, it introduces the Task-based Approach. In the fourth part, discusses the current situation of English teaching at middle school,and the elaboration on the task-based model of English listening teaching. All in all, the research is to make the audience to understand the application of Task-based Approach in English listening teaching at middle schools so as to improve the students' English listening ability.

Complication rates after direct anterior vs posterior approach for hip hemiarthroplasty in elderly individuals with femoral neck fractures

BACKGROUND Dislocation rates after hemiarthroplasty reportedly vary from 1%to 17%.This serious complication is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates.Approaches to this surgery are still debated,with no consensus regarding the superiority of any single approach.AIM To compare early postoperative complications after implementing the direct anterior and posterior approaches(PL)for hip hemiarthroplasty after femoral neck fractures.METHODS This is a comparative,retrospective,single-center cohort study conducted at a university hospital.Between March 2008 and December 2018,273 patients(a total of 280 hips)underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasties(n=280)for displaced femoral neck fractures using either the PL(n=171)or the minimally invasive direct anterior approach(DAA)(n=109).The choice of approach was related to the surgeons’practices;the implant types were similar and unrelated to the approach.Dislocation rates and other complications were reviewed after a minimum followup of 6 mo.RESULTS Both treatment groups had similarly aged patients(mean age:82 years),sex ratios,patient body mass indexes,and patient comorbidities.Surgical data(surgery delay time,operative time,and blood loss volume)did not differ significantly between the groups.The 30 d mortality rate was higher in the PL group(9.9%)than in the DAA group(3.7%),but the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.052).Among the one-month survivors,a significantly higher rate of dislocation was observed in the PL group(14/154;9.1%)than in the DAA group(0/105;0%)(P=0.002).Of the 14 patients with dislocation,8 underwent revision surgery for recurrent instability(posterior group),and one of them had 2 additional procedures due to a deep infection.The rate of other complications(e.g.,perioperative and early postoperative periprosthetic fractures and infection-related complications)did not differ significantly between the groups.CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the DAA to bipolar hemiarthroplasty for patients with femoral neck fractures is associated with a lower dislocation rate(<1%)than the PL.

Effect of two surgical approaches on the lung function and prognosis of patients with combined esophagogastric cancer

BACKGROUND Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction has a center of origin within 5 cm of the esophagogastric junction.Surgical resection remains the main treatment.A transthoracic approach is recommended for Siewert I adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and a transabdominal approach is recommended for Siewert III adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.However,there is a need to determine the optimal surgical approach for Siewert II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction to improve lung function and the prognosis of patients.AIM To investigate and compare the surgical effects,postoperative changes in pulmonary function,and prognoses of two approaches to treating combined esophagogastric cancer.METHODS One hundred and thirty-eight patients with combined esophagogastric cancer treated by general and thoracic surgeries in our hospital were selected.They were divided into group A comprising 70 patients(transabdominal approach)and group B comprising 68 patients(transthoracic approach)based on the surgical approach.The indexes related to surgical trauma,number of removed lymph nodes,indexes of lung function before and after surgery,survival rate,and survival duration of the two groups were compared 3 years after surgery.RESULTS The duration of surgery,length of hospital stay,and postoperative drainage duration of the patients in group A were shorter than those of the patients in group B,and the volume of blood loss caused by surgery was lower for group A than for group B(P<0.05).At the one-month postoperative review,the first second,maximum ventilation volume,forceful lung volume,and lung volume values were higher for group A than for group B(P<0.05).Preoperatively,the QLQ-OES18 scale scores of the patients in group A were higher than those in group B on re-evaluation at 3 mo postoperatively(P<0.05).The surgical complication rate of the patients in group A was 10.00%,which was lower than that of patients in group B,which was 23.53%(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Transabdominal and transthoracic surgical approaches are comparable in treating combined esophagogastric cancer;however,the former results in lesser surgical trauma,milder changes in pulmonary function,and fewer complications.

Colon cancer and their targeting approaches through nanocarriers:A review

Colon cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in the world.Colon cancer develops when healthy cells in the lining of the colon or rectum alter and grow uncontrollably to form a mass known as a tumor.Despite major medical improvements,colon cancer is still one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality globally.One of the main issues of chemotherapy is toxicity related to conventional medicines.The targeted delivery systems are considered the safest and most effective by increasing the concentration of a therapeutic substance at the tumor site while decreasing it at other organs.Therefore,these delivery systems required lower doses for high therapeutic value with minimum side effects.The current review focuses on targeting therapeutic substances at the desired site using nanocarriers.Additionally,the diagnostic applications of nanocarriers in colorectal cancer are also discussed.

Asymmetric relationship between global and national factors and domestic food prices:evidence from Turkey with novel nonlinear approaches

This study investigates the asymmetric relationship between global and national fac-tors and domestic food prices in Turkey,considering the recent rapid and continuous increase in domestic food prices.In this context,six global and three national explana-tory variables were included,and monthly data for the period from January 2004 to June 2021 were used.In addition,novel nonlinear time-series econometric approaches,such as wavelet coherence,Granger causality in quantiles,and quantile-on-quantile regression,were applied for examination at different times,frequencies,and quan-tiles.Moreover,the Toda-Yamamoto(TY)causality test and quantile regression(QR)approach were used for robustness checks.The empirical results revealed that(i)there is a significant relationship between domestic food prices and explanatory variables at different times and frequencies;(ii)a causal relationship exists in most quantiles,excluding the lowest quantile,some middle quantiles,and the highest quantile for some variables;(iii)the power of the effect of the explanatory variables on domestic food prices varies according to the quantiles;and(iv)the results were validated by the TY causality test and QR,which show that the results were robust.Overall,the empiri-cal results reveal that global and national factors have an asymmetric relationship with domestic food prices,highlighting the effects of fluctuations in global and national variables on domestic food prices.Thus,the results imply that Turkish policymakers should consider the asymmetric effects of global and national factors on domestic food prices at different times,frequencies,and quantiles.

Organic cathode materials for rechargeable magnesium-ion batteries:Fundamentals, recent advances, and approaches to optimization

Rechargeable magnesium-ion batteries(MIBs) are favorable substitutes for conventional lithium-ion batteries(LIBs) because of abundant magnesium reserves, a high theoretical energy density, and great inherent safety. Organic electrode materials with excellent structural tunability,unique coordination reaction mechanisms, and environmental friendliness offer great potential to promote the electrochemical performance of MIBs. However, research on organic magnesium battery cathode materials is still preliminary with many significant challenges to be resolved including low electrical conductivity and unwanted but severe dissolution in useful electrolytes. Herein, we provide a detailed overview of reported organic cathode materials for MIBs. We begin with basic properties such as charge storage mechanisms(e.g., n-, p-, and bipolartype), moving to recent advances in various types of organic cathodes including carbonyl-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-based materials. To shed light on the diverse strategies targeting high-performance Mg-organic batteries, elaborate summaries of various approaches are presented.Generally, these strategies include molecular design, polymerization, mixing with carbon, nanosizing and electrolyte/separator optimization.This review provides insights on exploring high-performance organic cathodes in rechargeable MIBs.

A Comparison between Deductive and Inductive Approaches for Teaching EFL Grammar to High School Students

This study had the purpose of testingtwo methods for teaching grammar in Englishasa Foreign Language(EFL)class:the deductive and inductive approaches in terms of effectiveness and rapport.This research was conducted in a public high school in Ecuador.Seventy students enrolled in the second year of senior high school participated.One in-service teacher taught the EFL classes during the process of intervention(10 weeks),and two EFL teachers observed all of these classes and recorded the information by filling in observation sheets.The students were administered grammar pretests and post-tests in order to assess their grammar knowledge.The results of the tests showed a significant difference in the scores in favor of the inductive approach.After the statistical analysis of the data obtained from the tests and observation sheets,we concluded that the inductive approach is more effective for teaching grammar in the EFL classroom in terms of instruction and rapport.

Direct Approaches in L2 Instruction:A Turning Point in Communicative Language Teaching?(Ⅰ)

In 1990 Richards argued that there were two major approaches to teaching speaking skills,an indirect approach,"inwhich conversational competence is seen as the product of engaging learners in conversational interaction"(p.76),and a direct approach,which"6involvesplanninga conversational programme around the specific micro skills,strategies,and processes that are involved in fluent conversation"(p.77).