Significant effort has been devoted to fabricating various biomaterials to satisfy specific clinical requirements. In this study, we developed a new type of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane by electrospinning a suspension consisting of poly( l-lactic acid), multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and hydroxyapatite (PLLA/MWNTs/HA). MWNTs/HA nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed in the membranes, and the degradation characteristics were far improved. Cytologic research revealed that the PLLA/MWNTs/HA membrane enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) by 30% and inhibited the adhesion and proliferation of gingival epithelial cells by 30% also, compared with the control group. After PDLCs were seeded into the PLLA/MWNTs/HA membrane, cell/membrane composites were implanted into the leg muscle pouches of immunodeficient mice. Histologic examinations showed that PDLCs attached on the membranes functioned well in vivo. This new type of membrane shows excellent dual biological functions and satisfied the requirement of the GTR technique successfully in spite of a monolayer structure. Compared with other GTR membranes on sale or in research, the membrane can simplify the manufacturing process, reduce the fabrication cost, and avoid possible mistakes in clinical application. Moreover, it does not need to be taken out after surgery. PLLA/MWNTs/HA membranes have shown great potential for GTR and tissue engineering.
The current study developed a psychometrically sound multidimensional measure of Internet addiction: the Chinese Internet Addiction Inventory (CIAI). Data were collected from 1,029 Chinese undergraduate students from 14 universities and colleges. The initial sample was split randomly into two samples (N1=516; N2=513). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted on the two samples respectively. Findings from the EFA suggest that this measure assesses three dimensions of Internet addiction: conflicts, mood modification, and dependence. Items in each dimension showed high internal consistency and acceptable test-retest reliability. Findings from the CFA further confirmed the three-factor measurement structure of CIAI. Test of criterion-related validity also showed good abilities for all three CIAI subscales to discriminate between an Internet addictive group and non-Internet addictive group. The theoretical and clinical implications of CIAI and its limitations are discussed.
Shame has been observed to play an important role in social anxiety in China [Xu, 1982]. Shame and personality factors, such as neuroticism and introversion-extraversion, are also related to social anxiety symptoms in Chinese college students [Li et al., 2003]. The aim of this study was to explore cross-cultural differences of the effects of shame and personality on social anxiety using the Experience Scale of Shame, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Short Scale and Social Anxiety Inventory. Data were collected from both a Chinese sample (n=211, 66 males and 145 females, average ages 20.12+/-1.56 years) and an American sample (n=211, 66 males and 145 females, average ages 20.22+/-1.90 years) of college students. The structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed separately for the Chinese and American samples. The SEM results reveal a shame-mediating model, which is adaptive and only in the Chinese sample. This suggests that shame is a mediator between the Chinese personality and social anxiety. The shame factor did not play the same role in the American sample. This empirical study supports the hypothesis that shame has a more important effect on social anxiety in the Chinese culture compared to its effect on Americans.
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