A Study of the Verification of the Effectiveness of Multiple Endings in Learning Novel Games

Today, digital games that incorporate multi-ending scenarios are not uncommon in the entertainment field. However, there is no such application of the multiple endings to learning games and educational situations. Therefore, there are no studies that have examined the learning effects of the multiple endings in learning games. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a multiple endings learning game on learners\u27 motivation and learning effectiveness. To test effectiveness of multiple endings, a multiple endings learning novel game was designed in the experiment. The results of the experiment showed that the learners of group with multiple endings practiced more often. In addition, the multi group performed better. And the results also showed that the learners in the multi group had a higher sense of achievement and self-determination than those in the single group. Based on these experiments, this study clarified that the multiple endings can improve the learning effect

Effects of Full-Length Borealin on the Composition and Protein-Protein Interaction Activity of a Binary Chromosomal Passenger Complex

The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) comprises at least four protein components and functions at various cellular localizations during different mitotic stages to ensure correct chromosome segregation and completion of cytokinesis. Borealin, the most recently identified member of the CPC, is an intrinsically unstructured protein of low solubility and stability. Recent reports have demonstrated the formation binary or ternary CPC sub-complexes incorporating short Borealin fragments in vitro. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, we show that full-length Borealin, instead of a Borealin fragment possessing the complete Survivin and INCENP-recognition sequence, is required for the composition of a Borealin-Survivin complex competent to interact with INCENP. In addition, we show evidence that full-length Borealin, which forms high-order oligomers in its isolated form, is a monomer in the Borealin-Survivin CPC sub-complex

FAN1 activity on asymmetric repair intermediates is mediated by an atypical monomeric virus-type replication-repair nuclease domain

FAN1 is a structure-selective DNA repair nuclease with 5' flap endonuclease activity, involved in the repair of interstrand DNA crosslinks. It is the only eukaryotic protein with a virus-type replication-repair nuclease ("VRR-Nuc") "module" that commonly occurs as a standalone domain in many bacteria and viruses. Crystal structures of three representatives show that they structurally resemble Holliday junction resolvases (HJRs), are dimeric in solution, and are able to cleave symmetric four-way junctions. In contrast, FAN1 orthologs are monomeric and cleave 5' flap structures in vitro, but not Holliday junctions. Modeling of the VRR-Nuc domain of FAN1 reveals that it has an insertion, which packs against the dimerization interface observed in the structures of the viral/bacterial VRR-Nuc proteins. We propose that these additional structural elements in FAN1 prevent dimerization and bias specificity toward flap structures

The molecular basis of ATM-dependent dimerization of the Mdc1 DNA damage checkpoint mediator

Mdc1 is a large modular phosphoprotein scaffold that maintains signaling and repair complexes at double-stranded DNA break sites. Mdc1 is anchored to damaged chromatin through interaction of its C-terminal BRCT-repeat domain with the tail of γH2AX following DNA damage, but the role of the N-terminal forkhead-associated (FHA) domain remains unclear. We show that a major binding target of the Mdc1 FHA domain is a previously unidentified DNA damage and ATM-dependent phosphorylation site near the N-terminus of Mdc1 itself. Binding to this motif stabilizes a weak self-association of the FHA domain to form a tight dimer. X-ray structures of free and complexed Mdc1 FHA domain reveal a ‘head-to-tail' dimerization mechanism that is closely related to that seen in pre-activated forms of the Chk2 DNA damage kinase, and which both positively and negatively influences Mdc1 FHA domain-mediated interactions in human cells prior to and following DNA damag

The molecular basis of ATM-dependent dimerization of the Mdc1 DNA damage checkpoint mediator

Mdc1 is a large modular phosphoprotein scaffold that maintains signaling and repair complexes at double-stranded DNA break sites. Mdc1 is anchored to damaged chromatin through interaction of its C-terminal BRCT-repeat domain with the tail of γH2AX following DNA damage, but the role of the N-terminal forkhead-associated (FHA) domain remains unclear. We show that a major binding target of the Mdc1 FHA domain is a previously unidentified DNA damage and ATM-dependent phosphorylation site near the N-terminus of Mdc1 itself. Binding to this motif stabilizes a weak self-association of the FHA domain to form a tight dimer. X-ray structures of free and complexed Mdc1 FHA domain reveal a ‘head-to-tail’ dimerization mechanism that is closely related to that seen in pre-activated forms of the Chk2 DNA damage kinase, and which both positively and negatively influences Mdc1 FHA domain-mediated interactions in human cells prior to and following DNA damage

Biophysical studies of cytokine receptor interactions

The IL-6 family of cytokines includes IL-6, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), oncostatin M (OSM), cardiotrophin-1, and IL-11. Functioning in a pleiotropic and redundant manner, these cytokines play an important role in the regulation of complex cellular processes such as gene activation, proliferation and differentiation, by signalling through homo- or heterodimers of gp130. This thesis describes the characterization of the interactions between the cytokine oncostatin M (OSM) and the cytokine-binding homology region (CHR) of its receptor gp130. Three forms of OSM were expressed, the native form and two truncated forms. Both mutations were obtained by C-terminal truncation. The first, OSM185, has an 11 amino residue deletion and the second, OSM187, has a 9-residue deletion. A variety of biophysical techniques were applied to investigate the complex. Analytical ultra-centrifugation (AUC), surface Plasma Resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies indicated that the purified proteins were stable in monomeric form and can form a 1:1 complex with affinity in the 0.1 μM range. One of the C-terminal truncated forms, the 187 residues version, showed higher stability than the native OSM (196 residues), but still demonstrated similar binding properties to the gp130-CHR. A 15N and 13C double-labelled OSM187 sample was produced for NMR studies. Due to the size of these two proteins, OSM187 (21.5 kDa) and gp130-CHR (25.2 kDa), the NMR studies of the complex are challenging. Applying the TROSY technique, data were obtained from the labelled OSM187 when it is in complex with gp130-CHR. The data could be compared with the free form OSM187 and several shifted peaks were detected. The binding site mapping work has just begun. The characterized binding properties and methods established for sample preparation provide a solid starting point for later studies. The thesis also contains an exploratory study of interactions between interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the IL-2 receptor β chain.</p

Plasmon induced transparency like transmission properties in compact MIM waveguide side-coupled with U-cavity

Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) can overcome the limitation of diffraction and control light at nanoscale, thus becoming a hotspot in recent years. SPPs based metal-insulator-metal (MIM) plasmonic waveguides using U-cavity and slot cavity are designed. The transmission characteristics are numerically simulated and verified by the coupled mode theory (CMT). Meanwhile, the effects of changing the geometric parameters on the transmission characteristics are also studied. Single and double plasmon induced transparency (PIT) effects are realized through the coupling and the destructive interfering between the transmission paths. Furthermore, characteristics of the refractive index sensing as well as the slow light and fast light effects are also investigated. We hope the designed waveguide structures along with their transmission characteristics have potential application prospects in the area of nanoscale integrated optical devices, such as filters, sensors, switches, slow/fast light devices, and other optoelectronic circuits

Biophysical studies of cytokine receptor interactions

The IL-6 family of cytokines includes IL-6, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), oncostatin M (OSM), cardiotrophin-1, and IL-11. Functioning in a pleiotropic and redundant manner, these cytokines play an important role in the regulation of complex cellular processes such as gene activation, proliferation and differentiation, by signalling through homo- or heterodimers of gp130. This thesis describes the characterization of the interactions between the cytokine oncostatin M (OSM) and the cytokine-binding homology region (CHR) of its receptor gp130. Three forms of OSM were expressed, the native form and two truncated forms. Both mutations were obtained by C-terminal truncation. The first, OSM185, has an 11 amino residue deletion and the second, OSM187, has a 9-residue deletion. A variety of biophysical techniques were applied to investigate the complex. Analytical ultra-centrifugation (AUC), surface Plasma Resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies indicated that the purified proteins were stable in monomeric form and can form a 1:1 complex with affinity in the 0.1 μM range. One of the C-terminal truncated forms, the 187 residues version, showed higher stability than the native OSM (196 residues), but still demonstrated similar binding properties to the gp130-CHR. A 15N and 13C double-labelled OSM187 sample was produced for NMR studies. Due to the size of these two proteins, OSM187 (21.5 kDa) and gp130-CHR (25.2 kDa), the NMR studies of the complex are challenging. Applying the TROSY technique, data were obtained from the labelled OSM187 when it is in complex with gp130-CHR. The data could be compared with the free form OSM187 and several shifted peaks were detected. The binding site mapping work has just begun. The characterized binding properties and methods established for sample preparation provide a solid starting point for later studies. The thesis also contains an exploratory study of interactions between interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the IL-2 receptor β chain.</p

MIGRATION AND REMITTANCES Evidence from a poor province in China

This paper examines patterns of remittances among migrants from Guizhou province of China. Our research is motivated by three lines of theoretical arguments, namely the new economics of migration, a translocal perspective linking remittances and development, and the culture of remittances. Taking individual, household, and village-level characteristics into account, we estimated multilevel logistic models of the decision to remit and multilevel models of the amount of remittances. Our results show that migrant remittance behaviour is responsive to family needs as well as household economic position in the village. Migrants who come from entrepreneurial households are more likely to remit a large amount than other types of households. We find some evidence of culture of remittances' in these villages. Consistent with our expectations, migrants who are from villages with higher amounts of average remittances are likely to remit a larger amount than otherwise