Achievement or Arrest? The Influence of the Collegiate Religious and Spiritual Climate on Students’ Worldview Commitment

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the collegiate religious, spiritual, and ideological climate and worldview commitment. As part of this process, 1,071 students responded to the Collegiate Religious and Spiritual Climate Survey, an empirically validated and reliable measure designed to assess dimensions of a campus’ religious, spiritual, and ideological climate. Results indicated that aspects of the psychological and behavioral climate were related to worldview commitment and these relationships were often conditioned upon students’ self-identified religious worldview. Implications for scholars and practitioners are discussed.     

The Use of Personal Data Assistants in Early Childhood Assessment

Four early childhood education teachers, two veteran and two newer teachers, were asked to pilot the use of handheld Personal Data Assistants loaded with Childchart assessment software. The participants were observed in their use of the electronic devices for monitoring student performance and interviewed regarding the use of the devices and their implications for assessment of early childhood learners. Veteran teachers indicated differences in both the use of the software programs and the style in which assessment activities were completed compared to newer teachers. The results indicate the need for professional development of new technologies to focus beyond the utilization of software and hardware and that new technologies implementation may be the catalyst for improvements in assessment strategies.     

Technology Acceptance in Social Work Education: Implications for the Field Practicum

The exponential growth and sophistication of new information and computer technology (ICT) have greatly influenced human interactions and provided new metaphors for understanding the world. The acceptance and integration of ICT into social work field education are examined here using the technological acceptance model. This article also explores potential challenges regarding the adoption of ICT into social work field practica. The article concludes with implications for adopting and integrating ICTs in social work field education.     

The nucleotide sequence of Shigella flexneri 1A: A common Indian isolate

We report complete sequences of 2 genes of S.flexneri 1a an Indian isolate for the first time. Shigella is causative agent of shigellosis or bacillary dysentery. Genomic library was constructed by shotgun approach. Sequencing was carried out using Big Dye terminator chemistry using ABI 3730 48 capillary DNA analyzer. 170 recombinants were subjected to nucleotide sequencing. Sequence data was analyzed, of these 2 clones showed presence of complete genes out of the total clones sequenced. Annotations were done using various bioinformatics tools. Gene Sfo676 on contig SF21B11, 513 bp long codes for a protein 170 aa long with molecular weight of 18836.5 daltons. The protein is 99 % identical to S. flexneri 2a 301 and not with any other strain of Shigella. It has 7 different sites for phosphorylation, myristoylation and glycosylation. Predicted cellular localization is cytoplasmic membrane. SF0368 is another full-length gene SF0368 on contig SF69C1 is a 312 nucleotide long. It is 103 aa long with molecular weight 11394.0 daltons. Protein is 100% identical to S. flexneri 2a 301 and 99% with S. sonnei strain 046. The gene shows difference when compared with S.sonnei in mono and dinucleotide frequency as well as amino acid composition.     

浙江省高校学报现状、问题及发展对策

高校学报是我国期刊的重要组成部分,其中的自然科学类学报是我国科技创新和建设创新型国家的主要媒体之一.本文对浙江省50家高校学报的办刊情况等方面进行了调查,分析得出高校学报由于受传统办刊观念的影响,随着我国高等教育改革的不断深化,同样面临着巨大的挑战和机遇.针对目前高校学报普遍存在着办刊思想保守、脱离市场、缺少经营意识等问题,并由此提出了进一步提高浙江省高校学报办刊质量的对策和建议.     

Micromixer based on viscoelastic flow instability at low Reynolds number

We exploited the viscoelasticity of biocompatible dilute polymeric solutions, namely, dilute poly(ethylene oxide) solutions, to significantly enhance mixing in microfluidic devices at a very small Reynolds number, i.e., Re≈0.023, but large Peclet and elasticity numbers. With an abrupt contraction microgeometry (8:1 contraction ratio), two different dilute poly(ethylene oxide) solutions were successfully mixed with a short flow length at a relatively fast mixing time of <10 μs. Microparticle image velocimetry was employed in our investigations to characterize the flow fields. The increase in velocity fluctuation with an increase in flow rate and Deborah number indicates the increase in viscoelastic flow instability. Mixing efficiency was characterized by fluorescent concentration measurements. Our results showed that enhanced mixing can be achieved through viscoelastic flow instability under situations where molecular-diffusion and inertia effects are negligible. This approach bypasses the laminar flow limitation, usually associated with a low Reynolds number, which is not conducive to mixing.     

Effect of vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients

Hemodialysis represents a chronic stress status for its recipients. Many hypotheses state that this may be associated with oxidative stress. Thus, there may be deficiency of antioxidants like erythrocytic superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin E or increased generation of free radicals like superoxide anions. A study was carried out to investigate oxidant and antioxidant status in chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis and effect of vitamin E supplementation on these two status. Blood samples were collected from patients before and after hemodialysis and from controls. The samples were analyzed for quantitation of MDA as index of lipid peroxide, nitric oxide, vitamin E, vitamin C and enzymatic antioxidants namely erythrocyte SOD and catalase. As compared to controls, the levels of serum MDA were significantly increased and activities of erythrocyte SOD and catalase, levels of serum nitric oxide, serum vitamin E and plasma vitamin C were significantly decreased both before and after hemodialysis. The efficiency of vitamin E therapy in hemodialysis patients was assessed by re-evaluating oxidant and antioxidant status of same patients after supplementation of vitamin E. Vitamin E supplementation caused decrease in serum MDA and increase in levels of serum nitric oxide, vitamin E, vitamin C and activities of erythrocytic SOD and catalase. Our results suggest the presence of oxidative stress and the possible preventive role of vitamin E therapy in hemodialysis patients.     

A comparative study on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in ischemic stroke patients with and without diabetes

The study was conducted to find out the extent of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in ischemic stroke patients (ISPs) with and without diabetes. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was studied as a marker of lipid peroxidation. Glutathione (GSH), uric acid and ceruloplasmin were estimated to study the antioxidant potential of ISPs. Significantly higher levels of MDA were found in both the groups of ISPs and the increase in MDA was more in ISPs without diabetes. GSH levels were decreased significantly in both the groups of ISPs and maximum decline was found in ISPs with diabetes. Uric acid levels were significantly increased in both the groups of ISPs. Ceruloplasmin levels were increased significantly in ISPs without diabetes, whereas its levels were slightly decreased in ISPs with diabetes. A negative correlation was found between MDA and the antioxidants GSH, uric acid and ceruloplasmin in ISPs with diabetes. This study suggests that there is an association between ischemic stroke and increased oxidative stress and the antioxidant potential is impaired in both the groups of ISPs with and without diabetes.     

Effect of Vitamin B<Subscript>12</Subscript> and Folate on Homocysteine levels in colorectal cancer

Folate and cobalamin (Vitamin B₁₂) are two essential micronutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism, which affects heart disease, neural tube defects and cancer. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, the key enzyme involved in one carbon metabolism produces methyl tetrahydrofolate from methylene tetrahydrofolate, which in turn donates methyl group to homocysteine to generate methionine. There exist two common low function polymorphic variants of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene involving nucleotides 677 C→T and 1298 A→C, which are associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. These polymorphisms are also linked with increased risk for certain cancers such as breast cancer and at the same time providing a protective effect on colorectal cancer. In this case control study, we have evaluated levels of folic acid, vitamin B₁₂ and homocysteine in patients with colorectal cancer. Folate and homocysteine levels did not differ significantly between the two groups; however an increasing trend was noticed with increase in homocysteine levels. Vitamin B₁₂ levels were increased in cases compared to control group.