Challenges and responses: A Complex Dynamic Systems approach to exploring language teacher agency in a blended classroom

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Cloning and characterization of a nitrite reductase gene related to somatic embryogenesis in Gossypium hirsutum

A nitrite reductase gene related to somatic embryogenesis was first cloned from Gossypium hirsutum. The cDNA sequence of the gene, named GhNiR, is 2,257 bp in length, with 254 bp of the 5’ untranslated region and 236 bp of the 3’ untranslated region. The open reading frame is 1,767 bp in length, encoding a deduced amino acid sequence of 588 residues with a molecular weight of 65.722 kDa and an isoelectric point of 7.07. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression level of GhNiR was higher in embryogenic calli and somatic embryoids than in nonembryogenic calli among different somatic embryogenesis stages, and that the level of GhNiR mRNA was also higher in the cultivar with higher somatic embryogenesis ability. The catalytic GhNiR was verified by transformation in E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain with the recombinant expression vector pET-28A-GhNiR. NiR activity assay showedthat the crude GhNiR protein had obvious activity to NaNO2 substrate

Acute effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field emitted by mobile phone on brain function

Due to its attributes, characteristics and technological resources, mobile phone (MP) has become one of the most commonly used communication devices. Historically, ample evidence has ruled out the substantial short-term impact of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) emitted by MP on human cognitive performance. However, more recent evidence suggests the potential harmful effects associated with MP EMF exposure. The aim of this review is to readdress the question of whether the effect of MP EMF exposure on brain function should be reopened. We strengthen our argument focusing on recent neuroimaging and electroencephalography studies, in order to present a more specific analysis of effects of MP EMF exposure on neurocognitive function. Several studies indicate an increase in cortical excitability and/or efficiency with EMF exposure, which appears to be more prominent in fronto- temporal regions and has been associated with faster reaction time. Cortical excitability might also underpin disruption to sleep. Notably however, several inconsistent findings exist, and conclusions regarding adverse effects of EMF exposure are currently limited. It also should be noted that the crucial scientific question of the effect of longer-term MP EMF exposure on brain function remains unanswered and essentially unaddressed

Structure of mitochondrial DNA control region of Argyrosomus amoyensis and molecular phylogenetic relationship among six species of Sciaenidae

The structure of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of Argyrosomus amoyensis was examined in this study. TAS, cTAS, CSB-D to CSB-F and CSB-1 to CSB-3 segments were detected in the species. The results indicated that the structures of these parts were different from that of most fishes. All the mtDNA control region sequences examined had missing tandem repeat sequences downstream of CSB-3, which were the same as most fishes’. In addition, part of the COI gene was used to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of six Sciaenids species. The phylogenetic tree results supported the classification by traditional morphology, and COI barcodes were useful for identifying these six species of Sciaenids.Key words: Control region, structure, Argyrosomus amoyensis, COI, phylogenetic relationship, Sciaenidae

Reduction in N2 amplitude in response to deviant drug-related stimuli during a two-choice oddball task in long-term heroin abstainers

Rationale: Chronic heroin use can cause deficits in response inhibition, leading to a loss of control over drug use, particularly in the context of drug-related cues. Unfortunately, heightened incentive salience and motivational bias in response to drug-related cues may exist following abstinence from heroin use. Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the effect of drug-related cues on response inhibition in long-term heroin abstainers. Methods: Sixteen long-term (8–24 months) male heroin abstainers and 16 male healthy controls completed a modified two-choice oddball paradigm, in which a neutral “chair” picture served as frequent standard stimuli; the neutral and drug-related pictures served as infrequent deviant stimuli of different conditions respectively. Event-related potentials were compared across groups and conditions. Results: Our results showed that heroin abstainers exhibited smaller N2d amplitude (deviant minus standard) in the drug cue condition compared to the neutral condition, due to smaller drug-cue deviant-N2 amplitude compared to neutral deviant-N2. Moreover, heroin abstainers had smaller N2d amplitude compared with the healthy controls in the drug cue condition, due to the heroin abstainers having reduced deviant-N2 amplitude compared to standard-N2 in the drug cue condition, which reversed in the healthy controls. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that heroin addicts still show response inhibition deficits specifically for drug-related cues after longer-term abstinence. The inhibition-related N2 modulation for drug-related could be used as a novel electrophysiological index with clinical implications for assessing the risk of relapse and treatment outcome for heroin users

A paradox theory lens on proactivity, individual ambidexterity, and creativity:An empirical look

Paradox theory suggests that contradictory demands, like applying current work methods while exploring new ones, should be viewed as dualities with competing and complementary aspects. It advocates for employee ambidexterity, where employees must manage exploitation and exploration. We know little about how personal dispositions affect ambidexterity independently or when interacting with situational factors. Based on a time-lagged survey of 364 employee–supervisor pairs from 74 R&D teams, we found that proactive disposition was positively related to ambidexterity, enhancing creativity. Guided by trait activation theory, we found further that paradoxical supervision and job autonomy enhanced the relationship between proactive disposition and employee ambidexterity and the indirect effect of proactive disposition on creativity via ambidexterity. We discuss these findings' theoretical and practical implications, extending the literature on proactivity, ambidexterity, and paradox theory

Mode Transition and Symmetry-Breaking in the Wake of a Flapping Foil

A numerical model for two-dimensional flows around a pitching foil in a viscous flow is presented. The model is numerically solved using the immersed boundary method and used to investigate the flow patterns of the foil pitching sinusoidally over a range of frequencies and amplitudes. A transition from the Karman vortex streets to the reverse Karman vortex streets are found, as the amplitudes of pitching motions increase. In the transition, the vortex streets undergo symmetry-breaking to the central lines of vortex streets. Those observations are in agreement with the previous experiment (Phys. Rev. E. 77 016308 2008). Furthermore, we examine the wake of the foils pitching with different frequencies. The transition from the Karman vortex streets to the reverse Karman vortex streets is also observed. An explanation is presented to the mechanism of the transition

Excitonic quantum confinement modified optical conductivity of monolayer and few-layered MoS2

2016-2017 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journal201804_a bcmaVersion of RecordPublishe

Effects of L-arginine on intestinal development and endogenous arginine-synthesizing enzymes in neonatal pigs

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary L-arginine supplementation on the intestinal development of neonatal piglets and the underlying mechanisms. 36 neonatal piglets were randomly allocated into three diet groups: control group (supplemented with 0% L-arginine), 0.4 and 0.8% Larginine groups. When compared with the control, dietary supplementation with L-arginine decreased (P<0.05) blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and improved (P<0.05) serum T3 and insulin level of the piglets on day 11. Arginine and its metabolites (citrulline and ornithine) were elevated, additionally, dietary supplementation with 0.8% L-arginine markedly enhanced jejunal villus height, villus area on day 11 and D-xylose absorption rate on day 19. Dietary supplementation with 0.8% L-arginine increased (P<0.05) activities of maltose and lactose on day 18, respectively. This effect correlated with profound change in enzyme activities as inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS), glutamine synthetase (GS) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) were elevated on day 18. The concentrations of spermine was increased (P<0.05) by L-arginine supplementation on day 18. These results collectively suggest that dietary  Larginine supplementation improves protein synthesis and intestinal development of the neonatal pigs, the underlying mechanism includes dietary L-arginine supplementation which regulated the productions of intestinal polyamine in jejunum, and stimulated endogenous arginine-synthesizing enzymes in neonatal piglets.Key words: Neonatal pig, L-arginine, intestinal development, arginine-synthetases