A CASE STUDY OF EFL BLENDED LEARNING BASED ON SUPERSTAR LEARNING SYSTEM IN CHINA

The main goal of this study is to propose and develop a pedagogical approach to blended learning in an undergraduate course and evaluate the implementation process and the satisfaction of the students. With the help of the research instrument like class observation and questionnaire, a case study method is adopted in this research in order to find answers to the following questions: how should teachers do with online course design in a blended learning environment? How should teachers carry out teaching practice in a face-to-face class? Can EFL learners improve their learning competency through Superstar Learning System -based blended learning? First, the researcher reviews the literature related to the current situation of college English teaching and learning in China, the concept of blended learning, and an overview of the Superstar Learning System. Next, outlining the online course design for the book the researcher is using in her class and practising one of the texts are described. The design is then evaluated using a questionnaire given to 179 participants. Survey results show that blended learning based on Superstar Learning System can provide a flexible and dynamic learning environment and improve students’ learning competency. Contents of online courses must be designed according to students’ needs and must be developed for all components of blended learning. The results also show students’ overall satisfaction is high

Norwegian cod by-products in the Chinese market

This thesis is dedicated to studying the main factors which could affect Norwegian cod by-products in the Chinese market. Norway has been recognized as one of the biggest seafood countries in the world while China shows a preference towards Norwegian seafood. And due to the relationship has been better in the past few years between these two countries, it is worthy to discuss Norwegian seafood business situation in China. The study is focus on Norwegian cod by-products through a Norwegian seafood company as a study case. The theory of entry mode selection, drivers of success are the main perspectives. Together with PEST and SWOT analysis result, the thesis shows the factors which affect establishing Norwegian cod by-products in China

Algebraic Cayley Graphs over Finite Fields

A new algebraic Cayley graph is constructed using finite fields. Its connectedness and diameter bound are studied via Weil's estimate for character sums. These graphs provide a new source of expander graphs, extending classical results of Chung

Hepatic Portal Venous Gas in a COPD Patient

Although hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) is usually associated with a grave prognosis, favorable outcomes have been reported in some conditions. A rare case demonstrates the transient occurrence of HPVG in a patient with aerophagia when chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occurred, and disappearance after symptoms resolved. The patient's recovery was uneventful and he did not suffer from any abdominal catastrophe. These findings may support the mechanical theory for the occurrence of benign HPVG

Extension Of Markowitz Model For Portfolio Analysis.

This paper focused on portfolio analysis that set-up among 10 selected stocks traded on Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE). Markowitz model is the main method used to build the optimal portfolio for this paper

High Temperature in Combination with UV Irradiation Enhances Horizontal Transfer of stx2 Gene from E. coli O157:H7 to Non-Pathogenic E. coli

Background: Shiga toxin (stx) genes have been transferred to numerous bacteria, one of which is E. coli O157:H7. It is a common belief that stx gene is transferred by bacteriophages, because stx genes are located on lambdoid prophages in the E. coli O157:H7 genome. Both E. coli O157:H7 and non-pathogenic E. coli are highly enriched in cattle feedlots. We hypothesized that strong UV radiation in combination with high temperature accelerates stx gene transfer into nonpathogenic E. coli in feedlots. Methodology/Principal Findings: E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 strain were subjected to different UV irradiation (0 or 0.5 kJ/m 2) combination with different temperature (22, 28, 30, 32, and 37uC) treatments, and the activation of lambdoid prophages was analyzed by plaque forming unit while induction of Stx2 prophages was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. Data showed that lambdoid prophages in E. coli O157:H7, including phages carrying stx2, were activated under UV radiation, a process enhanced by elevated temperature. Consistently, western blotting analysis indicated that the production of Shiga toxin 2 was also dramatically increased by UV irradiation and high temperature. In situ colony hybridization screening indicated that these activated Stx2 prophages were capable of converting laboratory strain of E. coli K12 into new Shiga toxigenic E. coli, which were further confirmed by PCR and ELISA analysis. Conclusions/Significance: These data implicate that high environmental temperature in combination with UV irradiatio

The effects of HIF-1alpha on gene expression profiles of NCI-H446 human small cell lung cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gene targeted therapy refers to any therapy focused on one of the many biological features of the tumor. Such features are mediated by specific genes that are involved in tumor metastasis, recurrence, poor response to chemotherapy and others. Hypoxia is an important pathognomonic feature of many malignant tumors including SCLC (small cell lung cancer). HIF-1alpha, which is induced by hypoxia, is the most important regulatory factor of many specific genes that can influence the biological features of tumors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we tried to elucidate the changes in gene expression profiles of SCLC NCI-H446 cells mediated by HIF-1alpha. According to different treatments of cells, three experimental pairwise comparisons were designed: hypoxia group vs. control group, Ad5-HIF-1alpha group vs. Ad5 group, and Ad5-siHIF-1 alpha group Vs Ad5 group.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results from the analysis of gene expression profiles indicated that there were 65 genes upregulated and 28 genes downregulated more than two-fold in all three experimental pairwise comparisons. These genes were involved in transport, signal-transduction, cell adhesion/motility, growth factor/cytokines, transcription, inflammatory response, metabolic process, in addition to others. SOCS1, IGFBP5, IL-6 and STAT3 were also upregulated at protein level. SOCS1 could significantly induce apoptosis and suppress growth of NCI-H446 cells but HIF-1alpha could induce growth and suppress apoptosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Through this research, we are trying to find novel functional genes that are mediated by HIF-1alpha and provide the theoretical basis for new therapeutic targets. HIF-1 alpha maybe upregulate the expression of SOCS1 through mediation of STAT3 and IL-6. In addition, SOCS1 could significantly induce apoptosis and suppress growth of NCI-H446 cells. This was contrary to HIF-1alpha and it indicated that there might be an antagonism effect between HIF-1alpha and SOCS1 on regulating growth and apoptosis of NCI-H446 cells.</p