Using Secret Blog Groups in the Classroom

This study describes a semester-long Secret Blog Group task undertaken by sixty university students in three writing classes. Twenty groups (three students from different classes in each group) were matched up according to interests. Their true identities were kept from each other. Each student developed a secret identity and created a blog. Students made one weekly blog posting on an assigned topic or a topic of their choosing. Students read and commented on the blogs of their secret group members, and responded to comments made on their own blog posts. A twenty-item pre-task questionnaire on past writing experiences showed that students were 1) had previously completed journal assignments; 2) felt that feedback was not helpful; 3) were unwilling to show their writing to their peers; 4) didn\u27t enjoy writing in English or Japanese. The same twenty-item questionnaire administered at the end of the semester showed that students felt that 1) the feedback they received was helpful; 2) they were willing to have their partners read their blogs; 3) they were less reluctant to share their journals with peers; 4) writing was more enjoyable. Open-ended comments were grouped into the following topics and discussed: fluency; feedback; secret partner identity; number of secret partners; different abilities; rolling topics; workload; and over-personal writing

Tine options for alleviating compaction in wheelings

Repeated trafficking and harvesting operations lead to high levels of compaction in inter-row wheelings used in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) production. This reduces soil porosity and infiltration resulting in water ponding on the soil surface. Even on gently sloping land this can result in runoff generation and an increased risk of soil erosion. A winged tine (WT) is currently used by a leading asparagus grower to loosen compacted inter-row wheelings. In order to test the effectiveness of this tine for alleviating compaction and implications for runoff and soil erosion control, it was evaluated alongside several other tine configurations. These were a narrow tine (NT); a narrow tine with two shallow leading tines (NSLT); a winged tine with two shallow leading tines (WSLT); and a modified para-plough (MPP). Testing was conducted under controlled conditions on a sandy loam soil in the Soil Management Facility at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK. Tine performance was assessed at 3 depths (175, 250 and 300 mm) by draught force; soil disturbance (both above and below ground); specific draught for a given level of soil disturbance; surface roughness; and estimated change in soil bulk density. The effectiveness of tines for compaction alleviation and potential for mitigating runoff and soil erosion varied with depth. The most effective tines were found to be the MPP NSLT and the WSLT at 175 mm, 250 mm and 300 mm depth, respectively

Mencari Keindahan Dalam Catan Chuah Thean Teng: Kajian Awal Analisis Geometri

Banyak kata indah digunakan untuk mengungkap visual yang terlihat pada sesebuah catan. Kata indah yang dimaksudkan ini adalah keteraturan dan keseimbangan berdasarkan prinsip geometri. Makalah ini akan mengkhususkan untuk mengenalpasti struktur tersembunyi yang terdapat dalam karya Chuah Thean Teng. Karya yang dipilih ialah catan medium batik yang bertajuk ‘Joy of Living’. Analisis geometri dgunakan sebagai alat dalam mengkaji struktur ini. Struktur tersembunyi ini ditentuluarkan, dianalisis serta diterangkan komposisi gubahan imej catan ini. Kajian awal analisis geometri ini diharapkan memberi lebih pemahaman terhadap gubahan struktur visual bagi membuat dokumentasi terhadap sejarah seni lukis Malaysi

Meiotic recombination and male infertility: from basic science to clinical reality?

Infertility is a common problem that affects approximately 15% of the population. Although many advances have been made in the treatment of infertility, the molecular and genetic causes of male infertility remain largely elusive. This review will present a summary of our current knowledge on the genetic origin of male infertility and the key events of male meiosis. It focuses on chromosome synapsis and meiotic recombination and the problems that arise when errors in these processes occur, specifically meiotic arrest and chromosome aneuploidy, the leading cause of pregnancy loss in humans. In addition, meiosis-specific candidate genes will be discussed, including a discussion on why we have been largely unsuccessful at identifying disease-causing mutations in infertile men. Finally clinical applications of sperm aneuploidy screening will be touched upon along with future prospective clinical tests to better characterize male infertility in a move towards personalized medicine

The HSV-1 Latency-Associated Transcript Functions to Repress Latent Phase Lytic Gene Expression and Suppress Virus Reactivation from Latently Infected Neurons

open access articleHerpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) establishes life-long latent infection within sensory neurons, during which viral lytic gene expression is silenced. The only highly expressed viral gene product during latent infection is the latency-associated transcript (LAT), a non-protein coding RNA that has been strongly implicated in the epigenetic regulation of HSV-1 gene expression. We have investigated LAT-mediated control of latent gene expression using chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses and LAT-negative viruses engineered to express firefly luciferase or β-galactosidase from a heterologous lytic promoter. Whilst we were unable to determine a significant effect of LAT expression upon heterochromatin enrichment on latent HSV-1 genomes, we show that reporter gene expression from latent HSV-1 genomes occurs at a greater frequency in the absence of LAT. Furthermore, using luciferase reporter viruses we have observed that HSV-1 gene expression decreases during long-term latent infection, with a most marked effect during LAT-negative virus infection. Finally, using a fluorescent mouse model of infection to isolate and culture single latently infected neurons, we also show that reactivation occurs at a greater frequency from cultures harbouring LAT-negative HSV-1. Together, our data suggest that the HSV-1 LAT RNA represses HSV-1 gene expression in small populations of neurons within the mouse TG, a phenomenon that directly impacts upon the frequency of reactivation and the maintenance of the transcriptionally active latent reservoir

Pattern Construction Based on the Analysis of Cathedral Floor Plans

Cathedrals are large buildings used for Christian worship and are located worldwide. Cathedral sites, size and layouts often have symbolic considerations. Floor plans are considered to be the first step in construction, and are the determinations of building designs which follow. This paper suggests a range of simple geometric methods to create repeating pattern alternatives suited to textile and similar end uses. Based on reference to cathedral floor plans, these methods include: various square-based and golden-section-based constructions; root-two rectangles and modular combinations

Exosomes containing HIV protein Nef reorganize lipid rafts potentiating inflammatory response in bystander cells.

HIV infection has a profound effect on "bystander" cells causing metabolic co-morbidities. This may be mediated by exosomes secreted by HIV-infected cells and containing viral factors. Here we show that exosomes containing HIV-1 protein Nef (exNef) are rapidly taken up by macrophages releasing Nef into the cell interior. This caused down-regulation of ABCA1, reduction of cholesterol efflux and sharp elevation of the abundance of lipid rafts through reduced activation of small GTPase Cdc42 and decreased actin polymerization. Changes in rafts led to re-localization of TLR4 and TREM-1 to rafts, phosphorylation of ERK1/2, activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, and increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The effects of exNef on lipid rafts and on inflammation were reversed by overexpression of a constitutively active mutant of Cdc42. Similar effects were observed in macrophages treated with exosomes produced by HIV-infected cells or isolated from plasma of HIV-infected subjects, but not with exosomes from cells and subjects infected with ΔNef-HIV or uninfected subjects. Mice injected with exNef exhibited monocytosis, reduced ABCA1 in macrophages, increased raft abundance in monocytes and augmented inflammation. Thus, Nef-containing exosomes potentiated pro-inflammatory response by inducing changes in cholesterol metabolism and reorganizing lipid rafts. These mechanisms may contribute to HIV-associated metabolic co-morbidities

Modeling and measuring intracellular fluxes of secreted recombinant protein in Pichia pastoris with a novel 34S labeling procedure

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The budding yeast <it>Pichia pastoris </it>is widely used for protein production. To determine the best suitable strategy for strain improvement, especially for high secretion, quantitative data of intracellular fluxes of recombinant protein are very important. Especially the balance between intracellular protein formation, degradation and secretion defines the major bottleneck of the production system. Because these parameters are different for unlimited growth (shake flask) and carbon-limited growth (bioreactor) conditions, they should be determined under "production like" conditions. Thus labeling procedures must be compatible with minimal production media and the usage of bioreactors. The inorganic and non-radioactive ³⁴S labeled sodium sulfate meets both demands.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used a novel labeling method with the stable sulfur isotope ³⁴S, administered as sodium sulfate, which is performed during chemostat culivations. The intra- and extracellular sulfur 32 to 34 ratios of purified recombinant protein, the antibody fragment Fab3H6, are measured by HPLC-ICP-MS. The kinetic model described here is necessary to calculate the kinetic parameters from sulfur ratios of consecutive samples as well as for sensitivity analysis. From the total amount of protein produced intracellularly (143.1 μg g^-1h^-1protein per yeast dry mass and time) about 58% are degraded within the cell, 35% are secreted to the exterior and 7% are inherited to the daughter cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A novel ³⁴S labeling procedure that enables <it>in vivo </it>quantification of intracellular fluxes of recombinant protein under "production like" conditions is described. Subsequent sensitivity analysis of the fluxes by using MATLAB, indicate the most promising approaches for strain improvement towards increased secretion.</p

Clashing Tradition of Textile Pattern Design Based on Tartan Proportions

Tartan, the woven checked wool textile considered to be originally from Scotland is common to many cultures and historical periods. The checked feature is due to the assembly of different coloured threads in 90 degree warp and weft directions (known as the ‘sett’). Originally (at least in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries) the colour of the sett was originally associated with different families, clans or geographic regions. Although tartan-type textiles have attained popularity the world over, it is also a predicted fashion wish for the forthcoming Autumn/Winter 2019/20 season (at least as suggested by exhibitors at Première Vision). Forthcoming fashionable designs may include ‘deconstructed tartan’, ‘textured checks’, ‘patched checks’ and ‘geometric printed checks’ etc. This paper aims to explore the proportions between tartan sett, the underlying grid structure and how these grids can be distorted for novel textile pattern design uses. A refreshing insight into textile pattern design methodology is thus provided. Key words: tartan, textile, grids, pattern design