Experiential Teacher Education – Preparing Preservice Teachers to Teach English Grammar through an Experiential Learning Project

The paper explores and describes the kinds of learning attained by a group of Hong Kong preservice teachers who worked collaboratively to develop online grammar teaching resources for school teachers worldwide. Based on the quantitative and qualitative data collected during the ongoing collaboration, lesson tryouts, and post-project evaluation, the project results reflect the value of experiential learning in preservice teacher education. The themes that detail the student teachers’ experiences include textbook evaluation, professional knowledge, core competencies of teachers, and understanding of English language teaching outside the Hong Kong context

International Field Experience – What Do Student Teachers Learn?

This inquiry aimed to examine the benefits of having international field experience for a group of Hong Kong postgraduate student teachers who joined a six-week immersion programme in New Zealand. Through participants’ reflections, interviews and programme evaluations, the present investigation found that the overseas field experience not only enriched their cultural understanding, pedagogical knowledge and skills, but also enhanced their language awareness, classroom language and recognition of different English varietie

In-field Mechanical Handling Method for One-gallon Nursery Containers

This study is concerned with the development of a mechanical alternative to the manual in-field handling of one-gallon nursery containers. Several concepts were generated and an experimental handling mechanism was built and evaluated with respect to performance in placing and removing containers on the ground.Agricultural Engineerin

Consumer Attitudes Toward an Earth-insulated Solar House and a Solar Greenhouse Residence

Housing, Design, and Consumer Resource

A yeast model system for functional analysis of β-catenin signaling

We have developed a novel Saccharomyces cerevisiae model system to dissect the molecular events of β-catenin (β-cat) signaling. Coexpression of mammalian β-cat with TCF4 or LEF1 results in nuclear accumulation of these proteins and a functional complex that activates reporter gene transcription from constructs containing leukocyte enhancer factor (LEF)/T cell factor (TCF) response elements. Reporter transcription is constitutive, requires expression of both β-cat and TCF4 or LEF1, and is not supported by mutated LEF/TCF binding elements or by TCF4 or LEF1 mutants. A cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin or a functional fragment of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) protein (APC-25) complexes with β-cat, reduces β-cat binding to TCF4, and leads to increased cytoplasmic localization of β-cat and a reduction in reporter activation. Systematic mutation of putative nuclear export signal sequences in APC-25 decreases APC-25 binding to β-cat and restores reporter gene transcription. Additional β-cat signaling components, Axin and glycogen synthase kinase 3β, form a multisubunit complex similar to that found in mammalian cells. Coexpression of the F-box protein β-transducin repeat-containing protein reduces the stability of β-cat and decreases reporter activation. Thus, we have reconstituted a functional β-cat signal transduction pathway in yeast and show that β-cat signaling can be regulated at multiple levels, including protein subcellular localization, protein complex formation, and protein stability

Differential transcriptional activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase by experimental deep venous thrombosis and thrombin

ObjectiveResolution of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is involved in the pathogenesis of postthrombotic syndrome. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic enzymes that are critical in angiogenesis and tissue remodeling. We hypothesized that MMP-2 and its membrane-bound activator membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) expression would be expressed and activated during the resolution of DVT.MethodsDVT was generated by caval ligation in wild-type and MMP-2 transgenic reporter mice. Ligated and sham-operated (control) cavae were analyzed for MMP-2 transcription (β–galactosidase activity in MMP-2 reporter mice) and MT1-MMP mRNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction. MMP-2 activity was determined by zymography, and immunohistochemical staining for β–galactosidase and MT1-MMP protein was used to localize expression. Human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) were treated with 10 U/mL thrombin and MMP-2 and MT1-MMP mRNA levels and MMP-2 activity was determined.ResultsMMP-2 activity increased 71% (n = 5, P < .05) at day 8 in ligated vs control cavae by zymography. β-galactosidase activity showed a 1.2-fold (n = 8, P < .05) and 1.7-fold (n = 8, P < .05) induction in MMP-2 transcription at day 3 and day 8, respectively. No significant MT1-MMP gene induction was seen at day 3 in ligated vs control cavae, but MT1-MMP mRNA was upregulated 2.5-fold (n = 8, P < .05) in ligated cavae at day 8. Immunohistochemical staining localized MMP-2 and MT1-MMP expression to the vein wall and cellular infiltrates of the thrombus. Thrombin-treated HUVEC showed differential responses of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP. Zymography of conditioned media and cell lysates illustrated a 220% (152.6 ± 8.6 vs 69.445 ± 5.46 pixels/unit area, n = 5, P < .05) and 150% (74.1 ± 7.3 vs 49.2 ± 5.7 pixels/unit area, n = 5, P < .05) increases in MMP-2 activity respectively. MMP-2 mRNA levels were downregulated 30% (0.48 ± 0.023 vs 0.63 ± 0.035 copies of MMP-2 mRNA/copy GAPDH, n = 5, P < .05), whereas MT1-MMP message was upregulated 250% (0.147 ± 0.009 vs 0.059 ± 0.005 copies of MT1-MMP mRNA/copy GAPDH, n = 5, P < .05).ConclusionsResolution of DVT is associated with increased MMP-2 transcription and activity as well as MT1-MMP expression. Thrombin may mediate the increase in MT1-MMP noted in DVT. This is the first article studying MMP-2 and MT1-MMP transcription in DVT. These findings add DVT resolution to the class of inflammatory and fibrotic disorders in which transcriptional activation of the MT1-MMP/MMP-2 genes occurs and identify a potential therapeutic target to modulate this clinically relevant process.Clinical RelevancePostthrombotic syndrome remains a significant clinical problem after deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in thrombus resolution and vein wall fibrosis remain undefined. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes are critical to cell migration and matrix breakdown. We identify gene transcription and activity of two MMP isoforms, MMP-2 and MMP-14 (membrane type MMP 1, MT1-MMP) in the resolution phase of experimental DVT and in thrombin-treated endothelial cells. These studies define new proteases potentially important to resolution of DVT and development of postthrombotic syndrome

Chinese proverbs: How are women and men represented?

Chinese proverbs, a mode of language that children encounter in their early stage of learning, are important tools with which to instil values and transform the social order. Any biases hidden in them may affect children’s self-images and their perceptions of others. The present study examines the images of men and women represented in Chinese proverbs as found in a dictionary published in Hong Kong. Despite the absence of the under-representation of women, gender inequality is evident in the stereotypical depiction of women, who are described as dependent on and submissive to men, and who are valued for their physical charm, chastity, domestic roles and ability to bear sons to continue the family line. For men, on the other hand, values are placed on their talents, friendship building and such personal attributes as bravery, modesty and kindness. Men’s fondness for women is neutrally or positively portrayed as unrestrained or romantic, reflecting the sexual objectification of women. Male supremacy is also evident in the common use of masculine generic constructions and male-firstness in Chinese proverbs

Spatial user interface : augmenting human sensibilities in a domestic kitchen

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-90).The real world is not a computer screen. When can augmented reality and ambient interfaces improve the usability of a physical environment? This thesis presents data from design studies and experiments that demonstrate the value for ambient information and augmented reality design. The domestic kitchen is used as a domain to place smart technologies and to study visual attention,multi-tasking, food-preparation and disruptiveness. Human perception in visually complex environments can be significantly enhanced by overlaying intuitive, immersive and attentive displays. Placing Graphical User Interface designs in a physical environment made only 20% of the subjects understand what to do in the Soft-Boiled Egg experiment. In the stovetop study, 94% of the subjects understood that the augmented stovetop was still hot and dangerous through the abstract and immersive display, while only 19% of the subjects were able to determine that the normal stovetop was still hot from a distance. In the Sink study, 94% of the subjects immediately understood that the water was hot by its red color. Useful knowledge about cooking, safety, and using home appliances can be embedded with sensors into the physical environment.(cont.) Causal-related cooking events (i.e. when a subject opened the freezer and then stood in front of the microwave, a 'Defrost' appeared on the microwave.) were added in KitchenSense in order to maintain an easily understood physical environment.by Jackie Chia-Hsun Lee.S.M