RESEARCH ON THE CURRENT SITUATION AND THE LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE ETIQUETTE OF GIVING AND RECEIVING BUSINESS GIFTS AMONG CHINESE AND INDONESIAN BUSINESSMEN

In international business exchanges, in order to enhance the cooperative relationship between the two sides, businessmen often give gifts to each other. This act of giving and receiving has thus become an important diplomatic protocol. The subjects of this study are Chinese businessmen and Indonesian businessmen. As we all know, China is Indonesia's largest trading partner. Therefore, the author decided to conduct a comparative study on the current situation and understanding of business gift giving and receiving etiquette between Chinese and Indonesian businessmen. The research type of this study is quantitative research. Through the questionnaire method, the author hopes to know the current situation of Chinese and Indonesian businessmen on business gift giving and receiving etiquette, the understanding level of Chinese businessmen on Indonesian business gift giving and receiving etiquette, and the understanding level of Indonesian businessmen on Chinese business gift giving and receiving etiquette. The research results show that there are similarities and differences between Chinese and Indonesian businessmen on the current situation of business gift-giving and gift-receiving etiquette. The similarity lies in the views on the role, importance and gift receiving etiquette of business gift giving, while the difference lies in the views on the principles, skills and gift taste of business gift giving. As for the degree of understanding, it can be concluded from the analysis results that in terms of average values, the SPSS average values achieved by Chinese businessmen (84.46%) are higher than those of Indonesian businessmen (82.67%). In terms of rank, Indonesian businessmen’s understanding of Chinese business gift-giving and receiving etiquette (86.7%) is higher than Chinese businessmen’s understanding of Indonesian business gift-giving and receiving etiquette (80% )

PERAN GAYA KEPEMIMPINAN DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEMANDIRIAN EKONOMI MASYARAKAT DESA

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui peran gaya kepemimpinan yang dilakukan oleh kepala desa dalam melaksanakan sistem pemerintahanya untuk mewujudkan kemandirian desa. Jenis pendekatan yang dilakukan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis kualitatif deskriptif yaitu untuk mengetahui secara mendalam tentang peran gaya kepemimpinan yang diterapkan oleh kepala desa dalam meningkatkan kemandirian ekonomi masyarakat desa. Hasil penelitian ini menjelaskan bahwa gaya kepemimpinan kepala desa yang diterapkan dalam meningkatkan kemandirian ekonomi masyarakat Desa Ngumpakdalem Kecamatan Dander Kabupaten Bojonegoro adalah gaya kepemimpinan partisipatif yang mengarah pada peningkatan ekonomi masyarakat secara mandiri, selain itu, kepala desa dan aparatur desa sangat mendukung masyarakat dan kegiatan ekonomi masyarakat. Faktor pengahambat penerapan gaya kepemimpinan kepala desa yang diterapkan dalam meningkatkan kemandirian ekonomi masyarakat adalah kurangnya dukungan masyarakat secara menyeluruh, hal ini perlu disadari bahwa tidak semua kebijakan dapat diterima masyarakat secara menyeluruh atau ada sebagian masyarakat yang masih kurang mendukung kebijakan kepala desa

Ciona robusta macrophage migration inhibitory factor (Mif1 and Mif2) genes are differentially regulated in the lipopolysaccharide-challenged pharynx

The effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Mif (macrophage migration inhibitory factor) gene expression in the pharynx (haemapoetic tissue) of Ciona robusta were investigated using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridisation (ISH). To verify the induction of an inflammatory response in the pharynx, a qRT-PCR analysis was performed to evaluate the change in the expression of proinflammatory marker genes such as Mbl, Ptx-like, Tnf-α and Nf-kb, which were shown to be upregulated 1 h post LPS challenge. The change in the expression of the two Mif paralogs in the pharynx was assessed before and after stimulation, and qRTPCR and ISH results showed that, although Mif2 and Mif2 were expressed in clusters of haemocytes in pharynx vessels, only Mif1 expression increased after LPS stimulation. This indicates that the Mif genes are differently regulated and respond to different ambient inputs that need further analysis

Evolution of Ciona intestinalis Tumor necrosis factor alpha (CiTNFα): Polymorphism, tissues expression, and 3D modeling

Although the Tumor necrosis factor gene superfamily seems to be very conserved in vertebrates, phylogeny, tissue expression, genomic and gene organization, protein domains and polymorphism analyses showed that a strong change has happened mostly in invertebrates in which protochordates were a constraint during the immune-molecules history and evolution. RT PCR was used to investigate differential gene expression in different tissues. The expression shown was greater in the pharynx. Single-nucleotide polymorphism has been investigated in Ciona intestinalis Tumor necrosis factor alpha (CiTNFα) mRNA isolated from the pharynx of 30 ascidians collected from Licata, Sicily (Italy), by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). For this analysis, CiTNFα nucleotide sequence was separated into two fragments, TNF-1 and -2, respectively, of 630 and 540 bp. We defined 23 individual DGGE patterns (named 1 to 10 for TNF-1 and 1 to 13 for TNF-2). Five patterns for TNF-1 accounted for <10% of the individuals, whereas the pattern 13 of TNF-2 accounted for >20% of the individuals. All the patterns were verified by direct sequencing. Single base-pair mutations were observed mainly within COOH-terminus, leading to 30 nucleotide sequence variants and 30 different coding sequences segregating in two main different clusters. Although most of the base mutations were silent, four propeptide variants were detected and six amino acid replacements occurred within COOH-terminus. Statistical tests for neutrality indicated negative selection pressure on signal and mature peptide domains, but possible positive selection pressure on COOH-terminus domain. Lastly we displayed the in silico 3D structure analysis including the CiTNFα variable region

Transforming growth factor β (CiTGF-β) gene expression is induced in the inflammatory reaction of Ciona intestinalis

Transforming growth factor (TGF-β) is a well-known component of a regulatory cytokines superfamily that has pleiotropic functions in a broad range of cell types and is involved, in vertebrates, in numerous physiological and pathological processes. In the current study, we report on Ciona intestinalis molecular characterisation and expression of a transforming growth factor β homologue (CiTGF-β). The gene organisation, phylogenetic tree and modelling supported the close relationship with the mammalian TGF suggesting that the C. intestinalis TGF-β gene shares a common ancestor in the chordate lineages. Functionally, real-time PCR analysis showed that CiTGF-β was transcriptionally upregulated in the inflammatory process induced by LPS inoculation, suggesting that is involved in the first phase and significant in the secondary phase of the inflammatory response in which cell differentiation occurs. In situ hybridisation assays revealed that the genes transcription was upregulated in the pharynx, the main organ of the ascidian immune system, and expressed by cluster of hemocytes inside the pharynx vessels. These data supported the view that CiTGF-β is a potential molecule in immune defence systems against bacterial infection

Identification, cloning and environmental factors modulation of a ab defensin from the Lessepsian invasive mussel Brachidontes pharaonis (Bivalvia: Mytilidae).

Immunological effectors of invasive species playing a role in addressing new colonization are still poorly studied. In the present study the cDNA sequence of the defensin from a Lessepsian invasive species, the Red Sea mussel Brachidontes pharaonis, was cloned using RACE method. Defensins are a class of widely known antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), oligopeptides with a broad spectrum of targeted organisms ranging from viruses to parasites. Analysis of BpDef sequence (262 bp) revealed the presence of an ORF coding for 81 amino acids. The full-length amino acid sequence showed the highest similarity to antimicrobial peptides MGD1 and MGD2 sequence from Mytilus galloprovincialis. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that BpDef belongs to the αβ defensin AMPs with a typical domain structurally characterized by a α helix and two β sheets. BpDef mRNA is located in circulating hemocytes with small intra-cytoplasmic granules and with large granules. The transcription of defensin gene was modulated by the stress from temperatures and oxygenation condition. Temperatures of 20 °C did not stimulate a BpDef transcription over a short time. At 30 °C the kinetics of BpDef gene transcription showed up regulation after one day, while it was down regulated after six days, both under normoxia and hypoxia conditions

LPS Challenge Regulates Gene Expression and Tissue Localization of a Ciona intestinalis Gene through an Alternative Polyadenylation Mechanism

subtractive hybridization strategy for the identification of differentially expressed genes was performed between LPSchallenged and naive Ciona intestinalis. This strategy allowed the characterization of two transcripts (Ci8short and Ci8long) generated by the use of two Alternative Polyadenylation sites. The Ci8long transcript contains a protein domain with relevant homology to several components of the Receptor Transporting Protein (RTP) family not present in the Ci8short mRNA. By means of Real Time PCR and Northern Blot, the Ci8short and Ci8long transcripts showed a different pattern of gene expression with the Ci8short mRNA being strongly activated after LPS injection in the pharynx. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that the activation of the APA site also influenced the tissue localization of the Ci8short transcript. This analysis showed that the Ci8long mRNA was expressed in hemocytes meanwhile the Ci8short mRNA was highly transcribed also in vessel endothelial cells and in the epithelium of pharynx. These findings demonstrated that regulation of gene expression based on different polyadenylation sites is an ancestral powerful strategy influencing both the level of expression and tissue distribution of alternative transcripts

Bioactive Molecules from the Innate Immunity of Ascidians and Innovative Methods of Drug Discovery: A Computational Approach Based on Artificial Intelligence

The study of bioactive molecules of marine origin has created an important bridge between biological knowledge and its applications in biotechnology and biomedicine. Current studies in different research fields, such as biomedicine, aim to discover marine molecules characterized by biological activities that can be used to produce potential drugs for human use. In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid to a particular group of marine invertebrates, the Ascidians, as they are a source of bioactive products. We describe omics data and computational methods relevant to identifying the mechanisms and processes of innate immunity underlying the biosynthesis of bioactive molecules, focusing on innovative computational approaches based on Artificial Intelligence. Since there is increasing attention on finding new solutions for a sustainable supply of bioactive compounds, we propose that a possible improvement in the biodiscovery pipeline might also come from the study and utilization of marine invertebrates’ innate immunity

Ciona intestinalis peroxinectin is a novel component of the peroxidase– cyclooxygenase gene superfamily upregulated by LPS

Peroxinectins function as hemoperoxidase and cell adhesion factor involved in invertebrate immune reac- tion. In this study, the ascidian (Ciona intestinalis) peroxinectin gene (CiPxt) and its expression during the inflammatory response have been examined. CiPxt is a new member of the peroxidase–cyclooxygenase gene superfamily that contains both the peroxidase domain and the integrin KGD (Lys-Gly-Asp) binding motif. A phylogenetic tree showed that CiPxt is very close to the chordate group and appears to be the out-group ofmammalianMPO, EPO and TPO clades. The CiPxtmolecular structuremodel resulted superimposable to the human myeloperoxidase. The CiPxt mRNA expression is upregulated by LPS inoculation suggesting it is involved in C. intestinalis inflammatory response. The CiPxt was expressed in hemocytes (compartment/morula cells), vessel epithelium, and unilocular refractile granulocytes populating the inflamed tunic matrix and in the zones 7, 8 and 9 of the endostyle, a special pharynx organs homolog to the vertebrate thyroid glan

Inducible galectins are expressed in the inflamed pharynx of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis

Although ascidians belong to a key group in chordate phylogenesis, amino acid sequences of Ciona intestinalis galectin-CRDs (CiLgals-a and -b) have been retained too divergent from vertebrate galectins. In the present paper, to contribute in disclosing Bi-CRD galectin evolution a novel attempt was carried out on CiLgals-a and -b CRDs phylogenetic analysis, and their involvement in ascidian inflammatory responses was shown. CiLgals resulted aligned with Bi-CRD galectins from vertebrates (Xenopus tropicalis, Gallus gallus, Mus musculus, Homo sapiens), cephalochordates (Branchiostoma floridae), echinoderms (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) and a mono-CRD galectin from the ascidian Clavelina picta. The CiLgalsa N-terminal and C-terminal CRDs contain the signature sequence involved in carbohydrate binding, whereas the CiLgals-b C-CRD presents only three out of seven key aminoacids and it could not be suitable as sugar binding motif. Sequence similarity between clusters suggests an evolutionary model based on CRD domain gene duplication and sequence diversification. In particular CiLgals-b N-CRD and C-CRD were similar to each other and both grouped with the ascidian C. picta mono-CRD. Homology modeling process shows a CiLgals molecular structure superimposed to chicken and mouse galectins. The CiLgalsa and CiLgals-b genes were upregulated by LPS inoculation suggesting that they are inducible and expressed in the inflamed pharynx as revealed by real-time PCR analysis. Finally, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical assays showed their localization in the inflamed tissues, while immunoblotting analysis indicated that CiLgals can form oligomer