The purpose of the study was to compare the deficit profiles of two important types of mathematics difficulties. Three cognitive measures (working memory, processing speed, and reasoning), two mathematics measures (numerical facts retrieval and mathematics vocabulary), and reading comprehension were assessed among 237 Chinese fourth-grade students, among whom 28 were classified as students with only computational difficulties (CD), 34 were classified as having only word problem-solving difficulties (WPD), 20 were classified as students with computational and word problem-solving difficulties (CD + WPD), and 43 typically developing (TD) peers. Multivariate analysis showed that, compared with TD, CD was associated with weakness in numerical working memory; WPD was associated with weakness in reading comprehension; both CD and WPD were associated with weakness in mathematics vocabulary. However, CD and WPD did not differ from each other on any of those profiling measures. Implications for understanding mathematics competence and identification of mathematics difficulties are discussed.

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The effects of discharge polarity, discharge electrode configuration, O 2 /CO 2 ratio, and water vapor on the elemental mercury (Hg 0 ) oxidation in simulated flue gas were investigated in a wire-cylinder plasma reactor energized by DC power. The Hg 0 oxidation efficiency increases with the increase of specific energy density (SED). Compared with the glow corona discharge energized by negative DC high voltage, the streamer corona discharge induced by positive DC high voltage exhibits a much higher Hg 0 oxidation efficiency under identical SED. The discharge electrode configuration significantly influences the energy density in the plasma reactor, but hardly affects Hg 0 oxidation for a fixed SED. The increase of O 2 /CO 2 ratio in simulated flue gas obviously enhances Hg 0 oxidation. However, with the addition of H 2 O, Hg 0 oxidation is remarkably restrained due to the decrease of O 3 formation.

Radiotherapy (RT) can produce a vaccine effect and remodel a tumor microenvironment (TME) by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) and inflammation in tumors. However, RT alone is insufficient to elicit a systemic antitumor immune response owing to limited antigen presentation, immunosuppressive microenvironment, and chronic inflammation within the tumor. Here, a novel strategy is reported for the generation of in situ peptide‐based nanovaccines via enzyme‐induced self‐assembly (EISA) in tandem with ICD. As ICD progresses, the peptide Fbp‐GDFDFDpY (Fbp‐pY), dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) forms a fibrous nanostructure around the tumor cells, resulting in the capture and encapsulation of the autologous antigens produced by radiation. Utilizing the adjuvant and controlled‐release advantages of self‐assembling peptides, this nanofiber vaccine effectively increases antigen accumulation in the lymph nodes and cross‐presentation by antigen‐presenting cells (APCs). In addition, the inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX–2) expression by the nanofibers promotes the repolarization of M2‐macrophages into M1 and reduces the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) required for TME remodeling. As a result, the combination of nanovaccines and RT significantly enhances the therapeutic effect on 4T1 tumors compared with RT alone, suggesting a promising treatment strategy for tumor radioimmunotherapy.

Hierarchical self-assembly based on peptides in nature is a multi-component interaction process, providing a broad platform for various bionanotechnological applications. However, the study of controlling the hierarchical structure transformation via...