39 research outputs found
Trait Emotional Intelligence and Classroom Emotions: A Positive Psychology Investigation and Intervention Among Chinese EFL Learners.
The link between emotional intelligence (EI) and negative emotions, especially anxiety, has been investigated in different educational contexts including second/foreign language (L2) learning contexts. However, the link between EI and positive emotions remains underexplored, despite the growing interest of second language acquisition (SLA) researchers in positive emotions, motivated by the Positive Psychology (PP) movement. Grounded on PP theories, a correlational and experimental investigation was conducted on EI and two typical L2 classroom emotions, namely Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE) and Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA). For the correlational study, questionnaires were administered to 1,718 English learners from three high schools in China. Statistical results showed medium correlations among studentsâ EI, FLE, and FLA. In the intervention study, a pre-test, treatment and post-test design was adopted. A six-week PP-based EI intervention ("ARGUER" training model in class and the "three activities" of PP in diary) was conducted in the experiment class of 56 students, while not in the control class of 52 students. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five students in the experimental class and their English teacher. ANCOVA test results and qualitative findings indicated that the EI intervention was effective in improving EI, boosting more positive classroom emotions and alleviating negative classroom emotions. The findings in both the correlational and intervention studies are discussed in combination with previous studies. We also further address their theoretical and practical implications for L2 education
Gene Clusters Located on Two Large Plasmids Determine Spore Crystal Association (SCA) in Bacillus thuringiensis Subsp. finitimus Strain YBT-020
Crystals in Bacillus thuringiensis are usually formed in the mother cell compartment during sporulation and are separated from the spores after mother cell lysis. In a few strains, crystals are produced inside the exosporium and are associated with the spores after sporulation. This special phenotype, named âspore crystal associationâ (SCA), typically occurs in B. thuringiensis subsp. finitimus. Our aim was to identify genes determining the SCA phenotype in B. thuringiensis subsp. finitimus strain YBT-020. Plasmid conjugation experiments indicated that the SCA phenotype in this strain was tightly linked with two large plasmids (pBMB26 and pBMB28). A shuttle bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library of strain YBT-020 was constructed. Six fragments from BAC clones were screened from this library and discovered to cover the full length of pBMB26; four others were found to cover pBMB28. Using fragment complementation testing, two fragments, each of approximately 35 kb and located on pBMB26 and pBMB28, were observed to recover the SCA phenotype in an acrystalliferous mutant, B. thuringiensis strain BMB171. Furthermore, deletion analysis indicated that the crystal protein gene cry26Aa from pBMB26, along with five genes from pBMB28, were indispensable to the SCA phenotype. Gene disruption and frame-shift mutation analyses revealed that two of the five genes from pBMB28, which showed low similarity to crystal proteins, determined the location of crystals inside the exosporium. Gene disruption revealed that the three remaining genes, similar to spore germination genes, contributed to the stability of the SCA phenotype in strain YBT-020. Our results thus identified the genes determining the SCA phenotype in B. thuringiensis subsp. finitimus
Identification and characterization of the highly polymorphic locus D14S739 in the Han Chinese population
Aim To systemically select and evaluate short tandem repeats
(STRs) on the chromosome 14 and obtain new STR
loci as expanded genotyping markers for forensic application.
Methods STRs on the chromosome 14 were filtered from
Tandem Repeats Database and further selected based on
their positions on the chromosome, repeat patterns of the
core sequences, sequence homology of the flanking regions,
and suitability of flanking regions in primer design.
The STR locus with the highest heterozygosity and polymorphism
information content (PIC) was selected for further
analysis of genetic polymorphism, forensic parameters,
and the core sequence.
Results Among 26 STR loci selected as candidates,
D14S739 had the highest heterozygosity (0.8691) and PIC
(0.8432), and showed no deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg
equilibrium. 14 alleles were observed, ranging in size
from 21 to 34 tetranucleotide units in the core region of
(GATA)9-18 (GACA)7-12 GACG (GACA)2 GATA. Paternity testing
showed no mutations.
Conclusion D14S739 is a highly informative STR locus and
could be a suitable genetic marker for forensic applications
in the Han Chinese populatio
Structural Insights into Bacillus thuringiensis Cry, Cyt and Parasporin Toxins
Since the first X-ray structure of Cry3Aa was revealed in 1991, numerous structures of B. thuringiensis toxins have been determined and published. In recent years, functional studies on the mode of action and resistance mechanism have been proposed, which notably promoted the developments of biological insecticides and insect-resistant transgenic crops. With the exploration of known pore-forming toxins (PFTs) structures, similarities between PFTs and B. thuringiensis toxins have provided great insights into receptor binding interactions and conformational changes from water-soluble to membrane pore-forming state of B. thuringiensis toxins. This review mainly focuses on the latest discoveries of the toxin working mechanism, with the emphasis on structural related progress. Based on the structural features, B. thuringiensis Cry, Cyt and parasporin toxins could be divided into three categories: three-domain type ι-PFTs, Cyt toxin type β-PFTs and aerolysin type β-PFTs. Structures from each group are elucidated and discussed in relation to the latest data, respectively
Disturbances of the Gut Microbiota and Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohnâs disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is characterized as a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disease whose pathogenesis is still elusive. The gut microbiota exerts important and diverse effects on host physiology through maintaining immune balance and generating health-benefiting metabolites. Many studies have demonstrated that IBD is associated with disturbances in the composition and function of the gut microbiota. Both the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota are dramatically decreased in IBD patients. Furthermore, some particular classes of microbiota-derived metabolites, principally short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan, and its metabolites, and bile acids have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD. In this review, we aim to define the disturbance of gut microbiota and the key classes of microbiota-derived metabolites in IBD pathogenesis. In addition, we also focus on scientific evidence on probiotics, not only on the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of probiotics on IBD but also the challenges it faces in safe and appropriate application
Recent progress in upconversion luminescence nanomaterials for biomedical applications
Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are one kind of luminescence nanomaterials that convert low energy photons to high energy emissions. These nanomaterials have recently attracted enormous attention due to their unique photophysical properties, such as resistance to photobleaching and photoblinking, low background autofluorescence, and long luminescence lifetime. Owing to these unique advantages, UCNPs have been widely examined for biomedical applications, including biosensing, imaging, and theranostics. In this review, we have first summarized the mechanisms for three generally accepted upconversion luminescence processes, i.e., lanthanide (Ln) doped upconversion luminescence, dye-sensitized upconversion, and triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion, and then discussed recent advancements on the preparation, functionalization, and biomedical applications of each type of UCNPs. The review article finally concludes with our perspectives on UCNPs' emerging and potential biomedical applications in the near future
Probing the Impact of Acidification on Spider Silk Assembly Kinetics
Spiders utilize fine adjustment of
the physicochemical conditions
within its silk spinning system to regulate spidroin assembly into
solid silk fibers with outstanding mechanical properties. However,
the exact mechanism about which this occurs remains elusive and is
still hotly debated. In this study, the effect of acidification on
spider silk assembly was investigated on native spidroins from the
major ampullate (MA) gland fluid excised from Latrodectus
hesperus (Black Widow) spiders. Incubating the protein-rich
MA silk gland fluid at acidic pH conditions results in the formation
of silk fibers that are 10â100 Îźm in length and âź2
Îźm in diameter as judged by optical and electron microscope
methods. The in vitro spider silk assembly kinetics were monitored
as a function of pH with a <sup>13</sup>C solid-state MAS NMR approach.
The results confirm the importance of acidic pH in the spider silk
self-assembly process with observation of a sigmoidal nucleation-elongation
kinetic profile. The rates of nucleation and elongation as well as
the percentage of β-sheet structure in the grown fibers depend
on the pH. These results confirm the importance of an acidic pH gradient
along the spinning duct for spider silk formation and provide a powerful
spectroscopic approach to probe the kinetics of spider silk formation
under various biochemical conditions
MEC Based Study of Brand Building of Hongyue Garden Maker
Using the theory of means-end chain (MEC) and soft laddering technique, this paper carried out an in-depth interview with 38 consumers. By the content analysis method, it analyzed the relationship between the âattribute - consequence - valueâ of Hongyue Garden Maker, built the corresponding implication matrix and hierarchical value map, and finally obtained the dominant perception orientation of Hongyue Garden Maker consumption. This study revealed the potential reasons for consumers to buy Hongyue Garden Maker, analyzed the value connotation of consumers and the brand communication path of Hongyue Garden Maker. In addition, the results of this paper are expected to provide certain theoretical references for market segmentation and brand orientation of Hongyue Garden Maker