China’s Transformation towards a Global Green System of Innovation

Purpose – This paper aims to examine recent trends and China’s role in the emerging global green system of innovation (GGSI) and present the major achievement in China’s R&D sectors and major challenges faced by the country. The authors use China’s role in the clean development mechanism (CDM) as a case to demonstrate the country’s willingness to adopt new technology and green innovation. Design/methodology/approach – In order to understand China’s transformation towards the GGSI, the approach used in this study is a review of innovation systems literature combined with analysis of statistical data from various sources. The authors also build an innovation model for the emerging global green system of innovation to demonstrate the building blocks which allow for transformational system failures to be avoided. The clean development mechanism (CDM) is used as a case example as to how GGSI works. Findings – This paper puts into perspective some recent developments in innovation and argues that there is enough evidence to claim that the world is re-orienting towards a global green system of innovation in which China is already one of the most significant players. Originality/value – Through building a new innovation model, this study demonstrates the complexity and the development of innovation in the context of China’s transformation towards the GGSI

Functional analysis of the biosynthetic gene cluster of the antitumor agent cetoniacytone A

A gene cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of the antitumor agent cetoniacytone A was identified in Actinomyces sp. strain Lu 9419, an endosymbiotic bacteria isolated from the intestines of the rose chafer beetle. The nucleotide sequence analysis of the 26 Kb DNA region revealed the presence of 17 complete ORFs, including genes predicted to encode a 2-epi-5-epi-valiolone synthase (CetA), a glyoxalase (CetB), an FAD/FMN-dependent dehydrogenase (CetF), an oxidoreductase (CetG), two aminotransferases (CetH, CetM), and a pyranose oxidase (CetL). BLAST search analysis using the newly isolated cet biosynthetic pathway revealed a homologous biosynthetic pathway in the genome of Frankia alni ACN14a, suggesting that this organism is capable of producing a metabolite related to the cetoniacytones. The 2-epi-5-epi-valiolone synthase (CetA) was cloned and expressed in E. coli and biochemical characterization of the gene product revealed that CetA is capable of catalyzing the cyclization of sedoheptulose 7-phosphate to 2-epi-5-epivaliolone. In addition, three other 2-epi-5-epi-valiolone synthase genes, from different natural product biosynthetic pathways have also been recombinantly expressed and biochemically characterized. These include BE-orf9 from the BE- 40644 biosynthetic gene cluster, prlA from the pyralomicin biosynthetic gene cluster, and salQ from the salbostatin biosynthetic gene cluster. Comparative analysis of the gene products with other related cyclases that are involved in natural product biosynthesis revealed that the 2-epi-5-epi-valiolone synthases uniquely represent a class of sugar phosphate cyclases (SPCs) that has a catalytic mechanism similar to that of dehydroquinate synthase in the shikimate pathway. Enzymes that belong to the SPC superfamily catalyze the cyclization of sugar phosphates to produce a variety of cyclitol intermediates that serve as the building blocks of many primary and secondary metabolites. Further phylogenetic analysis of SPC sequences revealed a new clade of SPCs, consisting a group of proteins with unknown function, that may regulate the biosynthesis of a novel set of secondary metabolites. The product of cetB, which has high identity to glyoxalases (members of the vicinal oxygen chelate (VOC) superfamily), has also been characterized. Members of the VOC superfamily catalyze a large range of divalent metal ion-dependent reactions. Enzymatic characterization of CetB revealed that this enzyme was able to catalyze the second metabolic step in cetoniacytone biosynthesis, mediating the epimerization of 2-epi-5-epi-valiolone to 5-epi-valiolone. Therefore, CetB may be designated as a new member of the VOC superfamily. Site directed nutagenesis and metal binding analysis showed that CetB is a Ni²⁺-dependent protein with four metal binding sites. Similar to other members of the VOC superfamily, CetB contains the common structural βαβββ scaffold, as predicted through Phyre program. Native protein gel and size exclusion analyses have shown that CetB exists as a two-module protein dimer. The results provide important insight into the mode of formation of this unique aminocyclitol natural product, and will contribute to future studies that aim to create new aminocyclitol analogs

Constructivist Perspective on Developing a Multidimensional Blended Teaching Model Fostering Deep Learning

To promote high-quality development of higher education, it is imperative to facilitate students’ transition from surface learning to deep learning. Compared with surface learning that focuses on rote memorization, deep learning emphasizes meaningful learning based on understanding and transfer. It involves three progressively advanced cognitive stages of knowing: "learning for understanding," "learning for application," and "learning for innovation," which ultimately enable the internalization, transfer, and creative application of knowledge. How to foster deep learning in students has been an urgent issue of higher education. This study, grounded in constructivist learning theory, explores a multidimensional blended teaching model fostering deep learning. It also develops an evaluation system assessing learning outcomes from the perspectives of ideological, political and moral education, knowledge, and competencies. We conducted an empirical study to test the effectiveness of this multidimensional blended teaching model. Findings will provide theoretical and practical implications for teaching reforms of similar courses

An optimized fractional order PID controller for suppressing vibration of AC motor

Fractional order Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller is composed of a number of integer order PID controllers. It is more accurate to control the complex system than the traditional integer order PID controller. The values of parameters of the fractional order PID controller play a decisive role for the control effect. Because the fractional order PID controller added two adjustable parameters than the traditional PID controller, it is very difficult to tune parameters. So the Back Propagation (BP) neural network is selected to optimize the parameters of the fractional order PID controller in order to obtain the high performance. Then the optimized fractional order PID controller and the traditional PID controller are used to control AC motor speed governing system. And the vibration spectrum and stator current spectrum under different rotating speeds are compared and analyzed in detail. The results show that the optimized fractional order PID controller has better vibration suppression performance than the traditional PID controller. The reason is that the optimized fractional order PID controller changed the stator current component, and further changed the frequency components and the amplitude of the vibration signal of the motor

Interference of steroidogenesis by gold nanorod core/silver shell nanostructures: Implications for reproductive toxicity of silver nanomaterials

Silver nanomaterials are widely used in personal care products. Recent studies have indicated that these nanomaterials may penetrate the blood-placental barrier and gain access to the ovaries. It is largely unknown how silver nanomaterials influence ovarian physiology and functions such as hormone production. This study examines the in vitro toxicology of silver nanomaterials, focusing especially on cytotoxicity and steroidogenesis while exploring their underlying mechanisms. In this study, primary rat granulosa cells were exposed to gold nanorod core/silver shell nanostructures (Au@Ag NRs), which were compared to cells exposed to gold nanorods only. The Au@Ag NRs generated more reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased production of adenosine triphosphate. Au@Ag NRs promoted steroidogenesis, including progesterone and estradiol, in a time and dose-dependent manner. Chemical reactivity and transformation of Au@Ag NRs were then studied by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) and X-ray absorption near edge structure, which identified the generation of free radicals and intracellular silver species. These results suggested that both particle-specific activity and intracellular silver ion release of Au@Ag Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Fatty Acid Analysis of the Transgenic Tobacco Expressing A Delta 6-Desaturase Gene from \u3cem\u3eMicroula sikkimensis\u3c/em\u3e

γ-Linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3Δ6, 9, 12) and octadecatetraenoic acid (OTA, 18:4Δ6, 9, 12, 15) are important polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which have been proved to be benefit for human health (Fan and Chapkin 1998; Whelan 2009). Currently, fish are the predominant source of PUFAs. However, with the growth of world’s population and the more nutrition requirements, fishery resources are shrinking. Alternative sources of PUFAs are being investigated (Truksa et al. 2009). The major oil crops do not contain GLA and OTA, only several plant species contain these important fatty acids in their leaf lipids and seed oils (Zhou et al. 2006). Genetic modification of oil crops may be an effective approach to produce these fatty acids. This process requires an enzyme–delta 6-desaturase, which can introduce a double bond at the delta 6 position (Meesa-pyodsuk and Qiu 2012). Microula sikkimensis is a kind of rare wild oil plant, which is widely distributed in Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal and the northwest region of China (Cao and Suo 2010). Fu et al. (1997) reported that unsaturated fatty acids made up 86.5% of total fatty acids, and that GLA accounted for 6.4% of fatty acids in M. sikkimensis seeds that is known as a new source of GLA. In this research, the delta 6-desaturase gene of M. sikkimensis was introduced into tobacco and the fatty acid composition of transgenic tobacco was analysed