21 research outputs found
Data_Sheet_1_Novice Chinese as a foreign language teachersā identity construction in primary schools in New Zealand from positioning and affordance perspectives.doc
While there has been an increase in research on Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) teachersā identity worldwide, limited attention has been drawn to CFL teachersā positioning and affordances to interpret their identity construction in an overseas context. To fill the gap, this study investigated seven novice CFL teachersā identity construction as Chinese language teachers in primary schools in New Zealand from positioning and affordance perspectives. Retrospective
semi-structured interviews were adopted to understand how the novice CFL teachers were positioned, how they positioned themselves, and what affordances they perceived to be influential to their Chinese language teacher identity construction. The findings showed that the novice CFL teachersā identity construction was subject to the social, institutional, and individual levels of being positioned, self-positioning, and affordances. Specifically, (1) consistent self-positioning at the social, institutional, and individual levels could largely determine the novice CFL teachersā identity construction; (2) inconsistency of identities between being positioned and self-positioning at the social, institutional, and individual levels might weaken the novice CFL teachersā identity construction; (3) affordances as opportunities at the social, institutional, and individual levels could strengthen the novice CFL teachersā identity construction, whereas affordances as challenges could not. The study concluded with implications and limitations to inform future research.</p
Activating Transcription Factor 4 (ATF4)-ATF3-C/EBP Homologous Protein (CHOP) Cascade Shows an Essential Role in the ER Stress-Induced Sensitization of Tetrachlorobenzoquinone-Challenged PC12 Cells to ROS-Mediated Apoptosis via Death Receptor 5 (DR5) Signaling
Tetrachlorobenzoquinone (TCBQ) is
a downstream metabolite of pentachlorophenol
(PCP). Previously, we demonstrated that TCBQ caused cytotoxicity due
to mitochondrial-related apoptosis. Here, we confirmed the upregulation
of death receptor 5 (DR5) followed by the construction of the death-inducing
signaling complex (DISC). We also detected the activation of the caspase
cascade, which was correlated with TCBQ-induced apoptotic cell death
in PC12 cells. The upregulation of DR5 included transcriptional activation
and <i>de novo</i> protein synthesis in response to TCBQ.
We also identified the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as a new target
for the TCBQ challenge in PC12 cells. The protein kinase R-like ER
kinase/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2Ī± (PERK/eIF2Ī±)-mediated
activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4)-ATF3-C/EBP homologous protein
(CHOP) signaling pathway contributed to the process of TCBQ-induced
ER stress. Blocking ATF4, ATF3, or CHOP signaling by gene silencing
technology resulted in decreased cell apoptosis after exposure to
TCBQ. Finally, NAC ameliorated TCBQ-induced apoptosis and ER stress,
which illustrated that TCBQ-induced apoptosis is somehow ROS-dependent.
In summary, this study provided important mechanistic insight into
how TCBQ utilizes ER stress-related signaling to exhibit pro-apoptotic
activity in PC12 cells
Effect of Subcellular Translocation of Protein Disulfide Isomerase on Tetrachlorobenzoquinone-Induced Signaling Shift from Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress to Apoptosis
Our previous studies
illustrated tetrachlorobenzoquinone (TCBQ)-caused
toxicities in neuron-like cells which imply its association with neurodegenerative
disorders. Although it is known that TCBQ induces oxidative damage
that in turn results in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis,
it is unclear how TCBQ triggers the signaling switch from pro-survival
(to restore cellular homeostasis) to pro-death (trigger apoptosis).
Protein disulfide isomerase family proteins (PDIs) regulate the progress
of various neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinsonās
disease and Alzheimerās disease. We tested the hypothesis that
subcellular translocation of PDIs implicates the survival/death signaling
switch by inducing mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP).
The rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells were exposed to TCBQ, and the
concentration-dependent ER stress was observed upon TCBQ treatment,
as indicated by the increase in inositol-requiring kinase/endonuclease
1Ī± (IRE1Ī±) phosphorylation, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)
expression, X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) splicing, and caspase 12
activation. Interestingly, pharmacological (or siRNA) abrogation of
PDIA1/PDIA3 aggravated the loss of cell viability induced by the relatively
low concentration (10 Ī¼M) of TCBQ. However, inhibition of PDIA1/PDIA3
rescued the high concentration (20 Ī¼M) of TCBQ-induced cell
death. Further mechanistic study illustrated that PDIs initially acted
to restore cellular homeostasis to pro-survival but that the constant
ER stress promoted the signaling switch to pro-apoptotis by the release
of PDIA1/PDIA3 from the ER lumen to induce Bak-dependent MOMP. Our
findings suggested that subcellular translocation of PDIs determined
the ālife or deathā fate of PC12 cells to TCBQ-induced
oxidative insult
Additional file 1 of Multi-omics analysis reveals overactive inflammation and dysregulated metabolism in severe community-acquired pneumonia patients
Supplementary Material 1: Table S1.1. Additional characteristics of NS-CAP patients, Related to Figure 1. Table S1.2. Additional characteristics of S-CAP patients, Related to Figure 1. Table S1.3. Additional characteristics of DCs, Related to Figure 1. Table S1.4. Additional characteristics of HCs, Related to Figure
Influence of the Surface Structure of Graphene Oxide on the Adsorption of Aromatic Organic Compounds from Water
In this work, graphene oxide (GO)
has been employed as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of three
aromatic organic compounds (AOCs), namely, aniline, nitrobenzene,
and chlorobenzene, from water under various initial AOC concentrations
and pH levels. Based on the characteristics of surface structures
of GO, a simple semiquantitative model has been provided to describe
the intrinsic adsorption behavior of GO to AOCs. Accordingly, the
adsorption mechanism has been discussed in detail at molecular levels.
The contribution coefficients derived from the proposed model indicate
that the most preferential interactions between GO and AOCs are hydrophobic
interactions (ĻāĻ stacking and hydrophobic effect)
that occur on graphitic zones of GO (unoxidized region). In the oxidized
region, there also exist the hydrophobic interactions on sp<sup>2</sup> clusters, although they may be hindered by surrounding sp<sup>3</sup> zones which are the most unfavorable and are only accessible to
AOCs through hydrogen bonding or electrostatic effects. More interestingly,
aniline exhibits the highest contribution coefficients in both hydrophobic
and hydrophilic zones of GO among the three measured AOCs due to its
good water solubility and facile formation of hydrogen bonds. Furthermore,
the analytical results of the adsorption isotherms are also fully
consistent with those from the proposed model
Characterization of Nicotine Catabolism through a Novel Pyrrolidine Pathway in <i>Pseudomonas</i> sp. Sā1
Nicotine is a major toxic alkaloid
in wastes generated from tobacco
production and cigarette manufacturing. In the present work, a nicotine-degrading
bacterial strain was isolated from tobacco powdery waste. The isolate
was identified as <i>Pseudomonas</i> sp. S-1 based on morphology,
physiology, and 16S rRNA gene sequence. Suitable conditions of isolate
S-1 for nicotine degradation were pH 7.0 and 30 Ā°C. Catabolic
intermediates of nicotine were isolated with preparative-HPLC and
characterized with LC-HRMS and NMR. The catabolic pathways of nicotine
were involved in dehydrogenation, oxidation, hydrolysis, and hydroxylation.
Interestingly, nicotine catabolism in strain S-1 undergoes a new pyrrolidine
pathway that differs from the other three catabolic pathways in bacterial
species. This work sheds light on catabolic diversity of nicotine
and heteroaromatics
Rapid Biodegradation of the Herbicide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid by Cupriavidus gilardii Tā1
Phytotoxicity
and environmental pollution of residual herbicides
have caused much public concern during the past several decades. An
indigenous bacterial strain capable of degrading 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic
acid (2,4-D), designated T-1, was isolated from soybean field soil
and identified as Cupriavidus gilardii. Strain T-1 degraded 2,4-D 3.39 times more rapidly than the model
strain Cupriavidus necator JMP134.
T-1 could also efficiently degrade 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic
acid (MCPA), MCPA isooctyl ester, and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)Āpropionic
acid (2,4-DP). Suitable conditions for 2,4-D degradation were pH 7.0ā9.0,
37ā42 Ā°C, and 4.0 mL of inoculums. Degradation of 2,4-D
was concentration-dependent. 2,4-D was degraded to 2,4-dichlorophenol
(2,4-DCP) by cleavage of the ether bond and then to 3,5-dichlorocatechol
(3,5-DCC) via hydroxylation, followed by ortho-cleavage to <i>cis</i>-2-dichlorodiene lactone (CDL). The metabolites 2,4-DCP
or 3,5-DCC at 10 mg L<sup>ā1</sup> were completely degraded
within 16 h. Fast degradation of 2,4-D and its analogues highlights
the potential for use of <i>C.Ā gilardii</i> T-1 in
bioremediation of phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides
Chiral Transformation: From Single Nanowire to Double Helix
We report a new type of water-soluble ultrathin AuāAg alloy nanowire (NW), which exhibits unprecedented behavior in a colloidal solution. Upon growth of a thin metal (Pd, Pt, or Au) layer, the NW winds around itself to give a metallic double helix. We propose that the winding originates from the chirality within the as-synthesized AuāAg NWs, which were induced to untwist upon metal deposition
Serum Antioxidant Parameters are Significantly Increased in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus after Consumption of Chinese Propolis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Based on Fasting Serum Glucose Level
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Primer sequences of the microsatellite markers used in linkage mapping.
<p>Primer sequences of the microsatellite markers used in linkage mapping.</p