Free play and pedagogical play: a multiple-case study of teachers’ views of play in Chinese early learning centers

ObjectiveGrounded in theories of globalization, this qualitative case study aimed to explore the understanding of play among Chinese teachers in private, for-profit Western style early learning centers.MethodsThe study encompassed 16 Chinese teachers working in four Western-style early learning centers. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. Following separate thematic analyses of each case, a cross-case analysis was conducted to compare and contrast the emerging themes, elucidating both commonalities and distinctions across the four cases.ResultsThe findings from all four cases revealed a categorization of play into two main types: “play in class’” and “play out of class.” “Play out of class” was characterized as unstructured, enjoyable, and creative, emphasizing child autonomy and spontaneous learning. In contrast, “play in class” pertained to play-based curricula that were thoughtfully designed to align with specific teaching goals and learning objectives. It was seen as a structured method for fostering learning, highlighting the developmental appropriateness of such approaches.Conclusion:These findings underscore the educators’ recognition of the significance of play; however, it also illustrates that their perceptions have been shaped by the prevailing emphasis on children’s achievements in Chinese society

Testing a Conceptual Lumped Model in Karst Area, Southwest China

Karst aquifers are known for their heterogeneous physical properties and irregular complex flow patterns which make it a challenge to describe the hydrological behavior and to quantitatively define the distribution of river flow components using hydrologic models. In this paper, a conceptual lumped hydrologic model, Xin’anjiang model (XAJ), was applied in Sancha River, which is a karst basin in southwest China, for the simulation of streamflow. The performance of XAJ model was evaluated based on the model’s ability to reproduce the streamflow and baseflow. Percentage of bias (PBIAS), Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), coefficient of determination (R2), and standard deviation (RSR) were calculated between the simulated and measured flow for both calibration and validation period. The low PBIAS and RSR (2.7% and 0.367 for calibration period, 1.3% and 0.376 for validation period) and the high NSE and R2 (0.866 and 0.866 for calibration period, 0.858 and 0.860 for validation period) indicate that the model structure and parameters are of reasonable validity. Furthermore, streamflow was separated to baseflow and surface flow using the “baseflow programme,” and the calculated results indicate that the model could also reproduce the response of baseflow in such karst system

Identification of Candidate Genes for the Plateau Adaptation of a Tibetan Amphipod, Gammarus lacustris, Through Integration of Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing

The amphipod Gammarus lacustris has been distributing in the Tibetan region with well-known uplifts of the Tibetan plateau. It is hence considered as a good model for investigating stress adaptations of the plateau. Here, we sequenced the whole-genome and full-length transcriptome of G. lacustris, and compared the transcriptome results with its counterpart Gammarus pisinnus from a nearby plain. Our main goal was to provide a genomic resource for investigation of genetic mechanisms, by which G. lacustris adapted to living on the plateau. The final draft genome assembly of G. lacustris was 5.07 gigabases (Gb), and it contained 443,304 scaffolds (>2 kb) with an N50 of 2,578 bp. A total of 8,858 unigenes were predicted in the full-length transcriptome of G. lacustris, with an average gene length of 1,811 bp. Compared with the G. pisinnus transcriptome, 2,672 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up-regulated and 2,881 DEGs were down-regulated in the G. lacustris transcriptome. Along with these critical DEGs, several enriched metabolic pathways, such as oxidative phosphorylation, ribosome, cell energy homeostasis, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, were predicted to play essential roles in the plateau adaptation. In summary, the present study provides a genomic basis for understanding the plateau adaption of G. lacustris, which lays a fundamental basis for further biological and ecological studies on other resident aquatic species in the Tibetan plateau

A proposed disease classification system for duck viral hepatitis

The nomenclature of duck viral hepatitis (DVH) was historically not a problem. However, 14 hepatotropic viruses among 10 different genera are associated with the same disease name, DVH. Therefore, the disease name increasingly lacks clarity and may no longer fit the scientific description of the disease. Because one disease should not be attributed to 10 genera of viruses, this almost certainly causes misunderstanding regarding the disease-virus relationship. Herein, we revisited the problem and proposed an update to DVH disease classification. This classification is based on the nomenclature of human viral hepatitis and the key principle of Koch's postulates (“one microbe and one disease”). In total, 10 types of disease names have been proposed. These names were literately matched with hepatitis-related viruses. We envision that this intuitive nomenclature system will facilitate scientific communication and consistent interpretation in this field, especially in the Asian veterinary community, where these diseases are most commonly reported

First Report of Integrative Conjugative Elements in Riemerella anatipestifer Isolates From Ducks in China

We report for the first time the occurrence of integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) in Riemerella anatipestifer (R.anatipestifer) isolated from diseased ducks in China. For this purpose, a total of 48 genome sequences were investigated, which comprised 30 publicly available R. anatipestifer genome sequences, and 18 clinical isolates genomes sequences. Two ICEs, named ICERanRCAD0133-1 and ICERanRCAD0179-1 following the classic nomenclature system, were identified in R. anatipestifer through the use of bioinformatics tools. Comparative analysis revealed that three ICEs in Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale showed a high degree of conservation with the core genes of ICERanRCAD0133-1, while 13 ICEs with high similarity to ICERanRCAD0179-1 were found in Bacteroidetes. Based on the definition of ICE family, ICERanRCAD0179-1 was grouped in CTnDOT/ERL family; however, ICERanRCAD0133-1, which had no significant similarity with known ICEs, might be classified into a novel ICE family. The sequences of ICERanRCAD0133-1 and ICERanRCAD0179-1 were 70890 bp and 49166 bp in length, had 33.14 and 50.34% GC content, and contained 77 CDSs and 51 CDSs, respectively. Cargo genes carried by these two ICEs were predicted to encode: R-M systems, IS elements, a putative TonB-dependent receptor, a bacteriocin/lantibiotic efflux ABC transporter, a tetracycline resistance gene and more. In addition, phylogenetic analyses revealed that ICERanRCAD0179-1 and related ICEs were derived from a common ancestor, which may have undergone divergence prior to integartation into the host bacterial chromosome, and that the core genes co-evolved via a related evolutionary process or experienced only a low degree of recombination events during spread from a common CTnDOT/ERL family ancestor. Collectively, this study is the first identification and characterization of ICEs in R. anatipestifer; and provides new insights into the genetic diversity, evolution, adaptation, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence of R. anatipestifer

DHAV-1 2A1 Peptide – A Newly Discovered Co-expression Tool That Mediates the Ribosomal “Skipping” Function

Duck hepatitis A virus 1 (DHAV-1) belongs to the genus Avihepatovirus in the family Picornaviridae. Little research has been carried out on the non-structural proteins of this virus. This study reports that 2A1 protein, the first non-structural protein on the DHAV-1 genome, has a ribosomal “skipping” function mediated by a “-GxExNPGP-” motif. In addition, we prove that when the sequence is extended 10aa to VP1 from the N-terminal of 2A1, the ribosome “skips” completely. However, as the N-terminus of 2A is shortened, the efficiency of ribosomal “skipping” reduces. When 2A1 is shortened to 10aa, it does not function. In addition, we demonstrate that N18, P19 G20, and P21 have vital roles in this function. We find that the expression of upstream and downstream proteins linked by 2A1 is different, and the expression of the upstream protein is much greater than that of the downstream protein. In addition, we demonstrate that it is the nature of 2A1 that is responsible for the expression imbalance. We also shows that the protein “cleavage” is not due to RNA “cleavage” or RNA transcription abnormalities, and the expressed protein level is independent of RNA transcriptional level. This study provides a systematic analysis of the activity of the DHAV-1 2A1 sequence and, therefore, adds to the “tool-box” that can be deployed for the co-expression applications. It provides a reference for how to apply 2A1 as a co-expression tool

Multiple functions of the nonstructural protein 3D in picornavirus infection

3D polymerase, also known as RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, is encoded by all known picornaviruses, and their structures are highly conserved. In the process of picornavirus replication, 3D polymerase facilitates the assembly of replication complexes and directly catalyzes the synthesis of viral RNA. The nuclear localization signal carried by picornavirus 3D polymerase, combined with its ability to interact with other viral proteins, viral RNA and cellular proteins, indicate that its noncatalytic role is equally important in viral infections. Recent studies have shown that 3D polymerase has multiple effects on host cell biological functions, including inducing cell cycle arrest, regulating host cell translation, inducing autophagy, evading immune responses, and triggering inflammasome formation. Thus, 3D polymerase would be a very valuable target for the development of antiviral therapies. This review summarizes current studies on the structure of 3D polymerase and its regulation of host cell responses, thereby improving the understanding of picornavirus-mediated pathogenesis caused by 3D polymerase

Mechanism of herpesvirus UL24 protein regulating viral immune escape and virulence

Herpesviruses have evolved a series of abilities involved in the process of host infection that are conducive to virus survival and adaptation to the host, such as immune escape, latent infection, and induction of programmed cell death for sustainable infection. The herpesvirus gene UL24 encodes a highly conserved core protein that plays an important role in effective viral infection. The UL24 protein can inhibit the innate immune response of the host by acting on multiple immune signaling pathways during virus infection, and it also plays a key role in the proliferation and pathogenicity of the virus in the later stage of infection. This article reviews the mechanism by which the UL24 protein mediates herpesvirus immune escape and its effects on viral proliferation and virulence by influencing syncytial formation, DNA damage and the cell cycle. Reviewing these studies will enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of herpesvirus infection and provide evidence for new strategies to combat against viral infection

DprA Is Essential for Natural Competence in Riemerella anatipestifer and Has a Conserved Evolutionary Mechanism

Riemerella anatipestifer ATCC11845 (RA ATCC11845) is naturally competent. However, the genes involved in natural transformation in this species remain largely unknown. Bioinformatic analysis predicts that DprA of RA (DprARa) has three domains: a sterile alpha motif (SAM), a Rossmann fold (RF) domain and a Z-DNA-binding domain (Zα). Inactivation of dprA abrogated natural transformation in RA ATCC11845, and this effect was restored by the expression of dprA in trans. The dprA with SAM and RF domains of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the dprA with RF and Zα domains of Helicobacter pylori was able to restore natural transformation in the RA ATCC11845 dprA mutant. An Arg123 mutation in the RF domain of R. anatipestifer was not able to restore natural transformation of the RA ATCC11845 dprA mutant. Furthermore, DprAR123E abolished its ability to bind DNA, suggesting that the RF domain is essential for the function of DprA. Finally, the dprA of Fusobacterium naviforme which has not been reported to be natural competent currently was partially able to restore natural transformation in RA ATCC11845 dprA mutant. These results collectively suggest that DprA has a conserved evolutionary mechanism

Association between genetically proxied glucosamine and risk of cancer and non-neoplastic disease: A Mendelian randomization study

IntroductionObservational investigations have examined the impact of glucosamine use on the risk of cancer and non-neoplastic diseases. However, the findings from these studies face limitations arising from confounding variables, reverse causation, and conflicting reports. Consequently, the establishment of a causal relationship between habitual glucosamine consumption and the risk of cancer and non-neoplastic diseases necessitates further investigation.MethodsFor Mendelian randomization (MR) investigation, we opted to employ single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instruments that exhibit robust associations with habitual glucosamine consumption. We obtained the corresponding effect estimates of these SNPs on the risk of cancer and non-neoplastic diseases by extracting summary data for genetic instruments linked to 49 varied cancer types amounting to 378,284 cases and 533,969 controls, as well as 20 non-neoplastic diseases encompassing 292,270 cases and 842,829 controls. Apart from the primary analysis utilizing inverse-variance weighted MR, we conducted two supplementary approaches to account for potential pleiotropy (MR-Egger and weighted median) and assessed their respective MR estimates. Furthermore, the results of the leave-one-out analysis revealed that there were no outlying instruments.ResultsOur results suggest divergence from accepted biological understanding, suggesting that genetically predicted glucosamine utilization may be linked to an increased vulnerability to specific illnesses, as evidenced by increased odds ratios and confidence intervals (95% CI) for diseases, such as malignant neoplasm of the eye and adnexa (2.47 [1.34–4.55]), benign neoplasm of the liver/bile ducts (2.12 [1.32–3.43]), benign neoplasm of the larynx (2.01 [1.36–2.96]), melanoma (1.74 [1.17–2.59]), follicular lymphoma (1.50 [1.06–2.11]), autoimmune thyroiditis (2.47 [1.49–4.08]), and autoimmune hyperthyroidism (1.93 [1.17–3.18]). In contrast to prior observational research, our genetic investigations demonstrate a positive correlation between habitual glucosamine consumption and an elevated risk of sigmoid colon cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, and benign neoplasm of the thyroid gland.ConclusionCasting doubt on the purported purely beneficial association between glucosamine ingestion and prevention of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases, habitual glucosamine ingestion exhibits dichotomous effects on disease outcomes. Endorsing the habitual consumption of glucosamine as a preventative measure against neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases cannot be supported