Biological and Biochemical Potential of Sea Snake Venom and Characterization of Phospholipase A<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Anticoagulation Activity

This study is designed to isolate and purify a novel anti-clotting protein component from the venom of Enhydrina schistosa, and explore its biochemical and biological activities. The active protein was purified from the venom of E. schistosa by ion-exchange chromatography using DEAE-cellulose. The venom protein was tested by various parameters such as, proteolytic, haemolytic, phospholipase and anti-coagulant activities. 80 % purity was obtained in the final stage of purification and the purity level of venom was revealed as a single protein band of about 44 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis under reducing conditions. The results showed that the Potent hemolytic activity was observed against cow, goat, chicken and human (A, B and O positive) erythrocytes. Furthermore, the clotting assays showed that the venom of E. schistosa significantly prolonged in activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and prothrombin time. Venomous enzymes which hydrolyzed casein and gelatin substrate were found in this venom protein. Gelatinolytic activity was optimal at pH 5–9 and ¹H NMR analysis of purified venom was the base line information for the structural determination. These results suggested that the E. schistosa venom holds good promise for the development of novel lead compounds for pharmacological applications in near future.     

Influence of intellectual capital upon knowledge creation in Spanish subsidiaries: an empirical study

Knowledge creation is one of the most important dynamic capabilities that firms can use to develop new assets, which can represent the basis for future innovations. Within a context of growing globalisation, the acquisition and creation of knowledge is one of the main objectives sought with international expansion. The consideration of intellectual capital within the knowledge creation process in subsidiaries offers an innovative way to undertake knowledge management practices in multinationals. Theoretical and empirical works can be found in the literature about intellectual capital. However, very few studies link intellectual capital to knowledge creation in multinationals. Seeking to fill this gap, the purpose of this paper is to develop and test a model that includes the main intangibles belonging to structural and relational capital that can influence knowledge creation in Spanish subsidiaries of foreign multinational firms belonging to high-technology and knowledge-intensive sectors. Theoretical, empirical and managerial contributions result from this paper.     

扎根范式下虚拟企业战略演进过程及机理的研究

虚拟企业作为适应动态复杂市场环境的主要组织形式，其战略演进过程及作用机理是本文研究的核心问题。本文以三家典型企业为样本，采用中国管理扎根研究范式，发现了虚拟企业战略演进的两个过程：在市场环境影响下，领导者认知满足利益相关者的生存需求，形成虚拟企业初级阶段的战略；领导者认知满足利益相关者的成长需求，并积极响应市场环境，形成虚拟企业成熟阶段的战略。领导者认知是推动不同战略过程转变的关键影响因素。伴随领导者认知地位从被动向主动转变，战略演进过程呈现出“随行就市”和“造势入市”的特征。本文通过认知地图的方式结合战略演进过程的特征，构建出符合虚拟企业战略演进过程特征的动态连续“W”模型，形象深入地剖析了虚拟企业战略演进过程的内在动因与形成机理，为后续详尽的探究虚拟演进理论提供了可能的视角。     

王尔德喜剧作品中的女性主义思考

奥斯卡.王尔德是19世纪后期英国唯美主义的领军人物,其创作体裁之广,鲜有人及。在短暂的一生中,他在戏剧、小说、童话、诗歌和文论领域都留下了惊世之作,然而真正使他轰动英国文坛的则是他的戏剧。其中以《温德米尔夫人的扇子》等4部喜剧广为人们所熟知。透过作品中所塑造的不同的女性人物形象,我们却能深刻地了解王尔德作为一个唯美主义艺术家对女性主义问题进行的深入思考。     

Are preservice teachers prepared to teach struggling readers?

Reading disabilities such as dyslexia, a specific learning disability that affects an individual’s ability to process written language, are estimated to affect 15–20% of the general population. Consequently, elementary school teachers encounter students who struggle with inaccurate or slow reading, poor spelling, poor writing, and other language processing difficulties. However, recent evidence may suggest that teacher preparation programs are not providing preservice teachers with information about basic language constructs and other components related to scientifically based reading instruction. As a consequence preservice teachers have not exhibited explicit knowledge of such concepts in previous studies. Few studies have sought to assess preservice teachers’ knowledge about dyslexia in conjunction with knowledge of basic language concepts. The purpose of the present study was to examine elementary school preservice teachers’ knowledge of basic language constructs and their perceptions and knowledge about dyslexia. Findings from the present study suggest that preservice teachers, on average, are able to display implicit skills related to certain basic language constructs (i.e., syllable counting), but fail to demonstrate explicit knowledge of others (i.e., phonics principles). Also, preservice teachers seem to hold the common misconception that dyslexia is a visual perception deficit rather than a problem with phonological processing. Implications for future research as well as teacher preparation are discussed.     

What is the best way to achieve broader reach of improved practices in higher education?

This article examines a common problem in higher education – how to create more widespread use of improved practices, often commonly referred to as innovations. I argue that policy models of scale-up are often advocated in higher education but that they have a dubious history in community development and K-12 education and that higher education leaders should shirk policymakers’ push to use a scale-up model of change. These thoughts are conceptual and are based upon a critical review of literature in community development and K-12, but I also draw upon empirical data in reviewing examples of widespread use of innovations in higher education.