Children\u27s Books as Cultural Products: A Qualitative Study of Cultural Representation in Hmong and Non-Hmong American Books

This study examined the type of cultural practices and values depicted within Hmong American children’s books in comparison to non-Hmong American children’s books from the United States. The purpose was to explore if prior Hmong traditional practices and values reflective of American individualism would extend to Hmong children’s books. Thirty best-seller children’s books were coded using two checklists, one focused on Hmong traditional practices and the other on American values. Results showed that Hmong traditional practices underscored by Hmong adolescents in prior research somewhat extended to Hmong children’s books. Moreover, in some respects Hmong children’s books displayed similar numbers of American values as did American children’s books. This study expanded the ethnic-racial socialization literature to an understudied population, the Hmong. In addition, the study provides parents and public educators insights into the cultural practices and values presented within Hmong children’s books

The Ensemble of Conformations of Antifreeze Glycoproteins (AFGP8): A Study Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

The primary sequence of antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) is highly degenerate, consisting of multiple repeats of the same tripeptide, Ala-Ala-Thr*, in which Thr* is a glycosylated threonine with the disaccharide beta-d-galactosyl-(1,3)-alpha-N-acetyl-d-galactosamine. AFGPs seem to function as intrinsically disordered proteins, presenting challenges in determining their native structure. In this work, a different approach was used to elucidate the three-dimensional structure of AFGP8 from the Arctic cod Boreogadus saida and the Antarctic notothenioid Trematomus borchgrevinki. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a non-native solvent, was used to make AFGP8 less dynamic in solution. Interestingly, DMSO induced a non-native structure, which could be determined via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The overall three-dimensional structures of the two AFGP8s from two different natural sources were different from a random coil ensemble, but their "compactness" was very similar, as deduced from NMR measurements. In addition to their similar compactness, the conserved motifs, Ala-Thr*-Pro-Ala and Ala-Thr*-Ala-Ala, present in both AFGP8s, seemed to have very similar three-dimensional structures, leading to a refined definition of local structural motifs. These local structural motifs allowed AFGPs to be considered functioning as effectors, making a transition from disordered to ordered upon binding to the ice surface. In addition, AFGPs could act as dynamic linkers, whereby a short segment folds into a structural motif, while the rest of the AFGPs could still be disordered, thus simultaneously interacting with bulk water molecules and the ice surface, preventing ice crystal growth

The metagenomics of biosilicification: causes and effects

In order to determine the links between geochemical parameters controlling the formation of silica sinter in hot springs and their associated microbial diversity, a detailed characterisation of the waters and of in situ-grown silica sinters was combined with molecular phylogenetic analyses of the bacterial communities in Icelandic geothermal environments. At all but one site, the microorganisms clearly affected, and in part controlled, the formation of the macroscopic textures and structures of silica sinter edifices. In addition, the class and genera level phylogenetic diversity and distribution appeared to be closely linked to variations in temperature, salinity and pH regimes

Effect of plasma surface pre-treatment on plastic substrate for ZnO TFT

Controlling the surface morphologies of ZnO nanostructures is a critical issue for the fabrication of electronic and photonic devices. This study reports the electrical properties of the ZnO nanostructure grown on the plasma surface pre-treated plastic substrates. The ZnO films were grown by using solution method with zinc nitrate hexahydrate Zn(NO3)2•6H2O and hexamethylenetetramine C12H6N4.as the main solution under various deposition conditions. The films with plasma surface pre-treatment has stronger (100) peak intensity than that without plasma surface pre-treatment. Also, very uniform grain size of the ZnO nanostructures can be seen. The fabricated enhancement mode ZnO thin film transistors (TFTs) exhibiting good transistor behavior with the drain saturation current of 38.1 µA at VGS = 35 V can be achieved. Keywords: ZnO nanostructure, plastic substrate, solution method, plasma, surface pre-treatment, TFT

Her Majesty's Signet

A survey of the WS Society's long relationship with the monarchy in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Her Behind Him

Poetry by Tim Brenna