The Impact of Intercultural Training on the Satisfaction and Achievement of Undergraduates Taught by International Teaching Assistants

Much has been done to prepare international teaching assistants to teach American undergraduates, but very little has been done to help the undergraduates learn effectively from instructors of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This research used a quasi-experimental, quantitative approach combined with a small ethnographic study to examine the impact of a short intercultural training activity on the satisfaction and achievement of freshman students in the fall Freshman Biology laboratory course at a large public university in Virginia. Satisfaction was measured by the responses of students on an end-of-course questionnaire, and achievement by their grades in the course. Audio interviews with individual students provided further information. The results of a MANOVA showed a small but statistically significant positive effect of the training on student satisfaction, despite the severe time constraints. However, further analysis using t-tests and ANOVAS produced nothing of significance and indicated that the first result was suspect, probably because of very unbalanced cells in the research design. Much useful information was gleaned from the training activity and from the ethnographic study. This research is only a first step in determining what can be done to prepare students to learn effectively from internationals and to see if some of the training activities widely used in the business world can be fruitfully applied in the university setting

TAPEWORMS OF ELASMOBRANCHS (Part I) A Monograph on the Lecanicephalidea (Platyhelminthes, Cestoda)

This represents the first monographic and phylogenetic treatment of the order Lecanicephalidea. The main objective was to treat the Lecanicephalidea at the generic level, while providing information on morphology, taxonomic history, phylogenetic relationships, geographic distribution, and host associations of the group. Following an introduction to the morphology of the Lecanicephalidea, the phylogenetic placement of the group is addressed. This is followed by a review of the taxonomic history of the group and relationships within, including summaries of 29 previously used classification schemes. Despite the generic focus of this study, the taxonomic status of 137 previously recognized lecanicephalidean species was evaluated, resulting in 65 species considered to be valid, 52 species considered to be species inquirendae, 14 considered to be nomina nuda, four considered to be non-lecanicephalidean species inquirendae, and two species considered to not belong to the Lecanicephalidea. Two type species, Lecanicephalum peltatum and Polypocephalus radiatus, and Anteropora japonica are redescribed. Seven new species are described. These are: Anteropora leelongi Jensen, n. sp., Eniochobothrium euaxos Jensen, n. sp., Hornellobothrium extensivum Jensen, n. sp., Lecanicephalum coangustatum Jensen, n. sp., Polypocephalus helmuti n. sp., Tetragonocephalum passeyi Jensen, n. sp., and Tylocephalum koenneckeorum Jensen, n. sp. Five new combinations were created for lecanicephalidean species (Polypocephalus caribbensis n. comb., P. elongatus n. comb., Tetragonocephalum madhualtae n. comb., Tetragonocephalum madrassensis n. comb., and Tylocephalum rhinobatii n. comb.), and one new combination for a tetraphyllidean species previously recognized as a lecanicephalidean (Pseudanthobothrium aegyptiacus n. comb.)

The role of PML and PML nuclear bodies in FADD-mediated apoptosis

PML nuclear bodies (NBs) consist of more than 80 constituents and are involved in many cellular processes such as apoptosis, DNA repair, cell cycle, transcriptional regulation and development. PML NBs are associated with the ‘nuclear matrix’ and vary in size from 0.3 to 1.0 !m in diameter. PML NBs came to prominence when PML, expressed as an oncogenic fusion protein with the retinoic acid receptor, was found in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia. PML is the major PML NB constituent and is involved in cellular activities such as apoptosis, growth suppression, antiviral defence and DNA repair, among many others. PML can be modified by the Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier (SUMO) and contains a SUMO- interacting motif (SIM). Both SUMO-modification and SUMO-interaction play an important role in the formation of PML NBs. The aim of this study is to gain deeper knowledge about PML, PML NBs and associated factors. Preliminary data show that PML is interacting with TRAF4- associated factor 1 (TFAF-1). The TRAF family of proteins forms part of a signalling pathway via the TNF receptor and is implicated in growth regulation. When TFAF-1 is expressed as a fusion protein with a red fluorescent protein it forms filamentous structures. These structures colocalise with death-effector filaments (DEFs). DEFs are formed by the Fas-associated death domain (FADD) and the prodomain of caspase-8. The main focus of this study was to discover more about how PML and PML NBs regulate apoptotic pathways, and thereby gain a better insight into the organisation of PML and PML NBs and how their disruption contributes to human disease. The association between TFAF-1, PML, PML NBs and DEFs was investigated further. DEFs were found to disrupt PML NBs and phosphorylation of FADD was found to be necessary for the disruption. Casein kinase 1 alpha (CK1 alpha) phosphorylates FADD at S194, which has been shown to regulate the apoptotic activities of FADD. Thus the regulation of the kinase activity and the phosphorylation of FADD, together with PML and PML NBs were investigated. Preliminary data shows that CK1 is modified by SUMO. This might take place at the PML NBs and adds a whole new aspect to the already very complex story of PML NBs and PML NB constituents.Open Acces

Authenticity and Fraud Information to Consumers regarding Control of Quality and Safety in Organic Production Chains

This leaflet provides a practical overview for consumers of what is done to secure the authenticity and integrity of 7 types of organically produced foods, where improvements are possible and what the consumers can do to support efforts that meet their demands. Other leaflets for consumers cover taste, freshness and nutrients or safety and contamination, and separate leaflets aim at retailers or at production of specific commodities

The Kaleidoscope of Culture: expanding the museum experience and the museum narrative by inviting visitors into the curatorial process

Traditional art museum exhibitions are planned according to art-historical elements. At Trapholt – a museum of modern Danish art, design and applied art in Denmark, we are interested in exploring what happens when ordinary visitors are invited to curate personal exhibitions in the museum space. This paper analyses the project The Kaleidoscope of Culture, where people with no art historical background were invited to curate exhibitions based on the Trapholt collection of art and their own cultural backgrounds and experiences. The main argument is that, by allowing these personal voices in the museum space, new museum narratives are established. But to make the museum a truly transformative space the art- historical knowledge and methods must also be activate

China’s Belt and Road and Maritime Silk Road initiatives: Chinese investments in commercial ports in Europe

This paper focuses on China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative and investments in commercial ports in Europe so as to explain why China is investing in these ports, to what extent the investments are dictated by security issues, attempts to gain political influence in the host countries or economic, above all commercial considerations and, finally, whether the findings have implications for the EU’s and the member states’ response. The analysis is based on a comparative case study of Chinese investments in the ports of Piraeus and Rotterdam using Robert Blackwill’s and Jennifer Harris’ geoeconomic analytical framework. The research shows that China’s objectives vary depending on the individual circumstances and characteristics of the host country and the port; political and economic in Piraeus but economic and commercial in Rotterdam. However, a more comprehensive understanding of China’s Maritime Silk Road strategy in Europe requires further research including a wider range of variables and actors

Valuing Impacts: the contribution of CBAx to improved policy practices

Policymaking involves trade-offs to ensure the best possible use of limited resources. Identifying and measuring the impacts – for example, health gains – of different policy alternatives helps decision makers with these trade-offs, and is a key component of policy analysis. The New Zealand Treasury’s approach to cost-benefit analysis includes CBAx, which is a toolkit for estimating the societal value of alternative policy options. A 2018 review showed increased quality of costbenefit analysis in budget proposals following the introduction of CBAx. In this article, we provide some context to CBAx developments and share insights from agencies’ practical experiences. We focus on the perspective of policy advisors using CBAx to undertake cost-benefit analysis, and touch on the application of the results to decision making. We conclude by outlining potential developments and inviting colleagues to make use of the CBAx toolkit to enhance cost-benefit analysis practices to better value policy impacts for New Zealanders

Authenticity and Fraud Information to Retailers regarding Control of Quality and Safety in Organic Production Chains

This leaflet provides a practical overview for retailers of what is done to secure the authenticity and integrity of organically produced foods, where improvements are possible and what the retailers can do to support efforts that meet their customers’ demands. Other leaflets for retailers cover taste, freshness and nutrients or safety and contamination, and separate leaflets aim at consumers or at production of specific commodities

\u3ci\u3eSeussapex\u3c/i\u3e, a New Genus of Lecanicephalidean Tapeworm (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda) from the Stingray Genus \u3ci\u3eHimantura\u3c/i\u3e (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) in the Indo-West Pacific with Investigation of Mode of Attachment

A new lecanicephalidean genus, Seussapex gen. n., is erected for specimens collected from stingrays from the Indo-West Pacific resembling the little known species Tenia [sic] narinari MacCallum, 1917 from the spotted eagle ray, Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen). Members of this new genus are unique in their possession of a multi-tiered apical structure comprising a bipartite apical modification of the scolex proper, and an externally bipartite apical organ with anterior and posterior glandular compartments internally. The appearance of the scolex varies dramatically depending on state of protrusion and/or evagination of these different parts which appear to be able to function independently. Seussapex karybares sp. n. parasitizing Himantura uarnak 2 (sensu Naylor et al., 2012) in northern Australia is described as the type species and Tenia [sic] narinari is transferred to the new genus. The two species differ in scolex length and width of the posterior dome-shaped portion of the apical organ. Histological sections of scoleces stained using the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction showed the surface of the anterior part of the apical organ and the anterior glandular compartment to stain PAS positive, suggesting a chemical mode of attachment to the host’s intestinal mucosal surface. Extensive collecting efforts of stingrays in the Indo-West Pacific shows Seussapex gen. n. to be restricted to species of Himantura Müller et Henle and suggests additional diversity in this group of hosts. In addition, the host identity of Seussapex narinari (MacCallum, 1917) comb. n. is called into question

Positioning Social Work Researchers for Engaged Scholarship to Promote Public Impact

The concept of engaged scholarship has garnered significant attention across numerous scientific disciplines. Engaged scholarship can be conceptualized as both a method centered on cocreating and applying new knowledge and a movement focused on prioritizing community identification of needs and social problem-solving strategies. In an effort to position social work researchers for engaged scholarship to promote public impact, we provide an overview of the following engaged-scholarship mechanisms: (a) community-based participatory research, (b) participatory action research, (c) practice-based research networks, (d) translational research, (e) transdisciplinary scientific collaborations, (f) systemic evaluation, and (g) developmental evaluation. We address the contextual factors that may influence the extent to which social work researchers can successfully pursue engaged scholarship and conclude by explicating a plausible relationship between engaged scholarship and public impact scholarship. Specifically, we apply the diffusion of innovations model and community dissonance theory to conceptually position engaged scholarship as a vehicle for promoting and optimizing public impact scholarship