Proteome changes in the plasma of Papilio xuthus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae): effect of parasitization by the endoparasitic wasp Pteromalus puparum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Although the biochemical dissection of parasitoid-host interactions is becoming well characterized, the molecular knowledge concerning them is minimal. In order to understand the molecular bases of the host immune response to parasitoid attack, we explored the response of Papilio xuthus parasitized by the endoparasitic wasp Pteromalus puparum using proteomic approach. By examining the differential expression of plasma proteins in the parasitized and unparasitized host pupae by two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis, 16 proteins were found to vary in relation to parasitization compared with unparasitized control samples. All of them were submitted to identification by mass spectrometry coupled with a database search. The modulated proteins were found to fall into the following functional groups: humoral or cellular immunity, detoxification, energy metabolism, and others. This study contributes insights into the molecular mechanism of the relationships between parasitoids and their host insects. Project supported by the National Basic Research Program (973) of China (No. 2006CB102005), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 30571251 and 30170626), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of the Ministry of Education of China (No. NCET-05-0513), and the Innovation Research Team Program of the Ministry of Education of China (No. IRT0535)     

宿主植物对V_A菌根接种剂质量的影响

在温室里于灭菌的瓦盆里,以混合砂:草碳:蛙石=40:36:24为基质,以 G·mosseae为菌种,比较了地豆(Phaseolus vulgaris L·)、豌豆(Pisum sativum L·)、花生(Arachis hypogaea L·)、白三叶草(Trifolium repens L·)、苏丹草(Sorghum sudanense stapf)五种植物对V_A菌根接种剂质量的影响.结果表明:供试的五种植物均是典型的V_A菌根植物,但其中白三叶草是最理想的宿主植物,其次是苏丹草和花生,地豆和豌豆则较差.     

A Factor Analysis of the Counseling-Orientation Preference Scale (COS)

As recommended by the authors of the Counseling-Orientation Preference Scale (COS), a factor analysis study was conducted to investigate the construct validity of the device. Data were collected from 686 respondents in 11 higher education institutions in the U.S. Means and standard deviations from this group and from two previously studied groups were reported. As might be expected from an instrument of 35 items divided into 7 subscales of 5 items each, the results indicated that items were not identified cleanly with the a priori placements used in the original construction. Basically, two major cluster groupings were found. Overall, some support for the construct validity of the COS was found; however, subscale interpretations must be made with caution. The utility of the COS and similar devices is in the self-study and reflection that is fostered in those who use them.     

Diversity arrays technology (DArT) for studying the genetic polymorphism of flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)

Diversity arrays technology (DArT) is a microarray-based marker system that achieves high throughput by reducing the complexity of the genome. A DArT chip has recently been developed for tobacco. In this study, we genotyped 267 flue-cured cultivars/landraces, including 121 Chinese accessions over five decades from widespread geographic regions in China, 103 from the Americas, and 43 other foreign cultivars, using the newly developed chip. Three hundred and thirty polymorphic DArT makers were selected and used for a phylogenetic analysis, which suggested that the 267 accessions could be classified into two subgroups, which could each be further divided into 2–4 sections. Eight elite cultivars, which account for 83% of the area of Chinese tobacco production, were all found in one subgroup. Two high-quality cultivars, HHDJY and Cuibi1, were grouped together in one section, while six other high-yield cultivars were grouped into another section. The 330 DArT marker clones were sequenced and close to 95% of them are within non-repetitive regions. Finally, the implications of this study for Chinese flue-cured tobacco breeding and production programs were discussed.     

Txting: the end of civilization (again)?

This paper begins with the author's recent participation in an Australian radio interview on the topic of SMS txting. It takes this as an entry point for an analysis and discussion of the discourses around txting to be found in a series of newspaper articles and taken up in the radio interview. Moving on from the initial analysis, the paper addresses some of the underlying tensions that come into play as new technologies and new literacies are taken up by young people and move with them into classrooms with existing institutional traditions around text and literacy.     

斑节对虾白斑综合症杆状病毒检测方法及其应用

对白斑和红体带白斑斑节对虾光镜和电镜观察，对虾白斑综合症杆状病毒（WSBV）感染外胚层和中胚层组织器官．应用WSBVPCR检测技术证实一种WSBV感染鳃、甲壳表皮、神经和肌肉，在肝胰腺、消化管（含胃）、心脏和血液中未检测到，其结果与组织学观察有出入．PCR检测WSBV最佳取材部位是对虾甲壳表皮和肌肉．PCR方法可应用于WSBV的提纯，实验用健康虾的筛选，实验感染WSBV的跟踪，以及流行病学研究．通过PCR方法和电镜观察结合证实红体病斑节对虾（不带白斑者）不是WSBV所致，修正了前人的观点．     

Information and communication technology (ICT) in secondary schools: the role of the computer coordinator

A study was conducted in 2002 to evaluate the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in 21 secondary schools in one region of New Zealand. As part of the study, the role of the ICT coordinator was investigated. All the ICT coordinators were surveyed and 14 of them were interviewed in‐depth. It is found that they were all well‐equipped to take up a significant leadership role in their schools and some of them have already demonstrated visible leadership. This paper also identifies some obstacles that have reduced their effective leadership in ICT use in their schools.     

黄州黄鳝体内寄生蠕虫的研究

剖检采自黄州陶店乡黄鳝60尾,新河乡黄鳝101尾,发现两地黄鳝体内寄生蠕虫种类的差别不大,但其感染率、感染强度有差别,两地黄鳝体内寄生蠕虫优势种均为隐藏新棘虫,常见种均为鳗鲡独孤吸虫及幼旋尾线虫未定种,稀有种均为大型多钩槽绦虫,隐藏新棘虫与幼旋尾线虫、隐藏新棘虫与鳗鲡独孤吸虫共染比例较高,     

黄州黄鳝体内寄生蠕虫的研究

剖检采自黄州陶店乡黄鳝60尾,新河乡黄鳝101尾,发现两地黄鳝体内寄生蠕虫种类的差别不大,但其感染率、感染强度有差别．两地黄鳝体内寄生蠕虫优势种均为隐藏新棘虫,常见种均为鳗鲡独孤吸虫及幼旋尾线虫未定种,稀有种均为大型多钩槽绦虫．隐藏新棘虫与幼旋尾线虫、隐藏新棘虫与鳗鲡独孤吸虫共染比例较高．     

Attitudes and Cultural Background and Their Relationship to English in a Multicultural Social Context: the case of male and female Arab immigrants in Canada [1]

This study investigated the relationship between attitudes and cultural background of 52 eighth‐grade Arab students in Canada and their reading comprehension of texts with English and Arabic content. An attitudes questionnaire, semi‐structured interviews and stories with cultural content in Arabic and English were used. Contrary to predictions made by schema theory, students scored higher whenever they read texts in English, their second language, regardless of cultural content. The multicultural reality of Canada seems to have provided students from different ethnic background with wide‐ranging cultural knowledge to cope successfully with unfamiliar cultural stories presented to them in the English language. Furthermore, gender differences were found among the Canadian Arab students with regard to the type of attitudes that motivated them to study English: male students showed predominantly instrumental attitudes, while females showed predominantly integrative attitudes towards learning English and becoming integrated into Canadian society. It is concluded that sociopsychological models of second‐language (L2) learning should be expanded to take into consideration gender differences and the gains that females coming from conservative societies start to achieve by learning the language of the host country and by integrating into its society.

     

Beyond the teaching-research nexus: the Scholarship-Teaching-Action-Research (STAR) conceptual framework

As knowledge for competitive advantage develops beyond the transfer of simple data and information to focus on knowledge that has meaning, values, purpose and a more integrated aspect, higher education is required to graduate students able to operate in a more worldly manner across disciplines. Government's response to this need has been to demand that universities adhere to more rigorous quantitative output measures of the quality of research and teaching. The response from universities has been mixed. While some academics are exploring teaching innovations to develop students' knowledge, research and problem-diagnostic skills through actively engaging them in authentic professional challenges, others are focusing on increasing discipline-linked research outputs. This is leading to a renewed debate as to the relative importance and contribution of teaching and discipline-based research. This paper argues that, rather than re-open this old division, a new framework is needed in which multi-directional interactions between discipline-based research, teaching-as-practice and scholarship of teaching are recognised. A conceptual Scholarship-Teaching-Action-Research framework is presented to provide focus for further discourse.     

Teachers' attitudes towards integration / inclusion: a review of the literature

On the assumption that the successful implementation of any inclusive policy is largely dependent on educators being positive about it, a great deal of research has sought to examine teachers' attitudes towards the integration and, more recently, the inclusion of children with special educational needs in the mainstream school. This paper reviews this large body of research and, in so doing, explores a host of factors that might impact upon teacher acceptance of the inclusion principle. The analyses showed evidence of positive attitudes, but no evidence of acceptance of a total inclusion or ‘zero reject’ approach to special educational provision. Teachers' attitudes were found to be strongly influenced by the nature and severity of the disabling condition presented to them (child-related variables) and less by teacher-related variables. Further, educational environment-related variables, such as the availability of physical and human support, were consistently found to be associated with attitudes to inclusion. After a brief discussion of critical methodological issues germane to the research findings, the paper provides directions for future research based on alternative methodologies.     

Understanding randomness and its impact on student learning: lessons learned from building the Biology Concept Inventory (BCI)

While researching student assumptions for the development of the Biology Concept Inventory (BCI; http://bioliteracy.net), we found that a wide class of student difficulties in molecular and evolutionary biology appears to be based on deep-seated, and often unaddressed, misconceptions about random processes. Data were based on more than 500 open-ended (primarily) college student responses, submitted online and analyzed through our Ed's Tools system, together with 28 thematic and think-aloud interviews with students, and the responses of students in introductory and advanced courses to questions on the BCI. Students believe that random processes are inefficient, whereas biological systems are very efficient. They are therefore quick to propose their own rational explanations for various processes, from diffusion to evolution. These rational explanations almost always make recourse to a driver, e.g., natural selection in evolution or concentration gradients in molecular biology, with the process taking place only when the driver is present, and ceasing when the driver is absent. For example, most students believe that diffusion only takes place when there is a concentration gradient, and that the mutational processes that change organisms occur only in response to natural selection pressures. An understanding that random processes take place all the time and can give rise to complex and often counterintuitive behaviors is almost totally absent. Even students who have had advanced or college physics, and can discuss diffusion correctly in that context, cannot make the transfer to biological processes, and passing through multiple conventional biology courses appears to have little effect on their underlying beliefs.     

Expression of human acidic fibroblast growth factor in Pichia pastoris

1. Introduction Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), a member of a family of structurally related polypeptides, is a kind of multifunctional protein that can stimulate cellular proliferation, migration and differentiation. In vivo, aFGF displays angiogenic activity promoting vascular endothelial cell mitogenesis as well as chemotaxis and induction of proteases involved in tissue regeneration [1]. Due to this wide range of biological activities, many potential therapeutic usages of aFGF …     

Discriminative stimulus control in instrumental electrodermal conditioning in the monkey (Cebus albifrons)

FourCebus albifrons monkeys received 24 sessions of multiple avoidance-punishment conditioning of the skin conductance response (SCR) with no discriminative stimuli, followed by 24 additional sessions with visual discriminative stimuli identifying the avoidance and punishment components. Four other monkeys that had previously been conditioned with the discriminative stimuli were given 24 additional sessions without them. Yoked controls were run with this group and received the electric shock noncontingently. The presence of the discriminative stimuli clearly facilitated acquisition and maintenance of higher SCR frequencies in avoidance as compared with punishment. Acquisition was retarded with the stimuli absent, and higher overall response levels resulted. Adding the stimuli improved differentiation and resulted in lower overall rates. Removing the stimuli likewise resulted in higher response frequency. When the stimuli were absent initially, higher shock frequencies were administered, and when they were removed, shock frequency increased. The yoked controls increased in response frequency but did not differentiate between the avoidance and punishment conditions. Overall, the presence of the stimuli appeared to facilitate differentiation and reduce trauma, as compared with when they were absent.     

Epstein-Barr virus interactions with the Bcl-2 protein family and apoptosis in human tumor cells

Epstein-Barr virus(EBV),a human gammaherpesvirus carried by more than 90% of the world’s population,is associated with malignant tumors such as Burkitt’s lymphoma(BL),Hodgkin lymphoma,post-transplant lymphoma,extra-nodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma,and nasopharyngeal and gastric carcinomas in immune-compromised patients.In the process of infection,EBV faces challenges:the host cell environment is harsh,and the survival and apoptosis of host cells are precisely regulated.Only when host cells receive sufficient survival signals may they immortalize.To establish efficiently a lytic or long-term latent infection,EBV must escape the host cell immunologic mechanism and resist host cell apoptosis by interfering with multiple signaling pathways.This review details the apoptotic pathway disrupted by EBV in EBV-infected cells and describes the interactions of EBV gene products with host cellular factors as well as the function of these factors,which decide the fate of the host cell.The relationships between other EBV-encoded genes and proteins of the B-cell leukemia/lymphoma(Bcl) family are unknown.Still,EBV seems to contribute to establishing its own latency and the formation of tumors by modifying events that impact cell survival and proliferation as well as the immune response of the infected host.We discuss potential therapeutic drugs to provide a foundation for further studies of tumor pathogenesis aimed at exploiting novel therapeutic strategies for EBV-associated diseases.     

Analysis of the 3' ends of tRNA as the cause of insertion sites of foreign DNA in Prochlorococcus

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of transfer RNA(tRNA) responsible for the association between tRNA genes and genes of apparently foreign origin(genomic islands) in five high-light adapted Prochlorococcus strains.Both bidirectional best BLASTP(basic local alignment search tool for proteins) search and the conservation of gene order against each other were utilized to identify genomic islands,and 7 genomic islands were found to be immediately adjacent to tRNAs in Prochlorococcus marinus AS9601,11 in P.marinus MIT9515,8 in P.marinus MED4,6 in P.marinus MIT9301,and 6 in P.marinus MIT9312.Monte Carlo simulation showed that tRNA genes are hotspots for the integration of genomic islands in Prochlorococcus strains.The tRNA genes associated with genomic islands showed the following characteristics:(1) the association was biased towards a specific subset of all iso-accepting tRNA genes;(2) the codon usages of genes within genomic islands appear to be unrelated to the codons recognized by associated tRNAs;and,(3) the majority of the 3' ends of associated tRNAs lack CCA ends.These findings contradict previous hypotheses concerning the molecular basis for the frequent use of tRNA as the insertion site for foreign genetic materials.The analysis of a genomic island associated with a tRNA-Asn gene in P.marinus MIT9301 suggests that foreign genetic material is inserted into the host genomes by means of site-specific recombination,with the 3' end of the tRNA as the target,and during the process,a direct repeat of the 3' end sequence of a boundary tRNA(namely,a scar from the process of insertion) is formed elsewhere in the genomic island.Through the analysis of the sequences of these targets,it can be concluded that a region characterized by both high GC content and a palindromic structure is the preferred insertion site.