The beta-adrenergic receptor and its mode of coupling to adenylate cyclase

The article first includes a discussion on the classification of catecholamine receptors followed by a discussion on the binding studies of beta-receptors and their affinity labeling. Next a brief discussion on the solubilization and the current attempts to purify the receptor is presented. A large section is then devoted to the mode of coupling between beta-receptors and cyclase where much space is devoted to the role of GTP and of the membrane matrix. The review ends with a discussion on beta-receptor desensitization, supersensitivity, and the "spare receptor" concept.     

Emergency contraception and RU-486 (mifepristone): do bioethical discussions improve learning and retention?

To systematically investigate whether the inclusion of a bioethical discussion improves the learning and retention of biological content, students in two sections of an introductory zoology class were taught the biology behind emergency contraception and RU-486. Students in one section of the course participated in a bioethical discussion, whereas students in the other section participated in a content-only discussion. Pre- and postsurveys, response paragraphs, and a final exam were collected and used to examine the learning and retention of content knowledge. Results suggested that students who participated in a bioethical discussion of emergency contraception and RU-486 learned and retained information better than students who received content-only instruction. Interestingly, students who participated in the bioethical discussion also appeared to be more confident in their answers. The results of this study may inform the teaching practices and goals of science educators who would like to incorporate a discussion of bioethical issues into their curriculum but often feel that content coverage is paramount.     

Using Peer Discussion Facilitated by Clicker Questions in an Informal Education Setting: Enhancing Farmer Learning of Science

Blueberry growers in Maine attend annual Cooperative Extension presentations given by university faculty members. These presentations cover topics, such as, how to prevent plant disease and monitor for insect pests. In 2012, in order to make the sessions more interactive and promote learning, clicker questions and peer discussion were incorporated into the presentations. Similar to what has been shown at the undergraduate level, after peer discussion, more blueberry growers gave correct answers to multiple-choice questions than when answering independently. Furthermore, because blueberry growers are characterized by diverse levels of education, experience in the field etc., we were able to determine whether demographic factors were associated with changes in performance after peer discussion. Taken together, our results suggest that clicker questions and peer discussion work equally well with adults from a variety of demographic backgrounds without disadvantaging a subset of the population and provide an important learning opportunity to the least formally educated members. Our results also indicate that clicker questions with peer discussion were viewed as a positive addition to university-related informal science education sessions.     

谈细胞生物学启发讨论式教学中的问题设置

启发讨论式教学是素质教育对各科教学的新要求。问题设置是启发讨论式教学中的关键环节。探讨了细胞生物学启发讨论式教学中问题设置的基本方式及其应注意的几个方面。     

Regulating genomics in the 21st century: from logos to pathos?

There is currently an important change in the governance of genomics. In the past, much of the regulatory discussion about genomics has focused on issues of risk. Today, a new discussion is evolving that emphasizes the uncertainties involved in the development and diffusion of genomics into society. The increasing importance of emotional language and the focus on trust in the discussion about genomics reflects the attempt to substitute for the shortcomings of logos with ethos and pathos.     

Strategies for multiple sequence alignment

We present an overview of multiple sequence alignments to outline the practical consequences for the choices among different techniques and parameters. We begin with a discussion of the scoring methods for quantifying the quality of a multiple sequence alignment, followed by a discussion of the algorithms implemented within a variety of multiple sequence alignment programs. We also discuss additional alignment details such as gap penalty and distance metrics. The paper concludes with a discussion on how to improve alignment quality and the limitations of the techniques described in this paper     

Summary to the symposium issue: Primate fallback strategies as adaptive phenotypic plasticity—Scale,pattern, and process

In this discussion, I evaluate our understanding of fallback foods in primate and hominin ecology and evolution with reference to the challenges of nomenclature, scale, and of linking individual responses to food availability and properties (process) to species traits (pattern). I use these challenges to form the framework of my discussion and ultimately conclude that we situate the discussion of primate fallback strategy into a broader, “synthetic” framework of animal form and the evolutionary significance of phenotypic plasticity. Am J Phys Anthropol 140:759–766, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Size and socio-economic resources of core discussion networks in the Netherlands: differences by national-origin group and immigrant generation

This study examines differences in the size and socio-economic resources of core discussion networks across national-origin groups and immigrant generation. The analysis is based on the Netherlands Longitudinal Lifecourse Study (2008–10), a nationally representative, large-scale survey of the Dutch population that contains an over-sample of first- and second-generation immigrants from Turkey and Morocco, the two largest non-western immigrant groups in the Netherlands. Results show that Dutch majority members have larger and more resourceful core discussion networks than Turks and Moroccans. Second-generation immigrants from Turkey and Morocco have larger core discussion networks than their foreign-born parents. However, there is no clear evidence for intergenerational increase in resources. The larger and more resourceful core discussion networks of the Dutch are partly attributable to the Dutch being higher educated and employed more often.     

基于云班课的研究生医学分子生物学文献阅读与讨论教学模式的整合与评价

研究生教育注重培养学生的科学研究和创新能力.文献阅读与讨论(literature reading and discussion,LRD)对研究生创新思维和批判性思维的培养发挥积极的作用.然而,在传统的分子生物学课堂上,如何有效地实施大规模的集体LRD是一个巨大的挑战.云班课是一款专门针对教学而设计的免费移动教学APP,...     

The sharing of cDNA microarray data

During the initial development of microarrays, much discussion revolved around the technology itself. The discussion has now shifted to data analysis and data sharing. There is great interest in the sharing of cDNA microarray data, but several issues related to format, quality and validation will need to be resolved before microarray data can be meaningfully integrated into other molecular databases.     

在课程教学中引入社会热点问题的讨论

课程教学是大学教育的核心。为了提高学生的学习主动性,尝试将转基因作物安全性等社会热点问题引入微生物学教学中。通过布置任务、查阅资料、展示要点、开展讨论、概括总结等程序,对热点问题进行详细的剖析。通过讨论,不仅增进了学生对社会热点问题的认识和相关微生物学知识的理解,而且提高了学生的自学能力、组织能力、表达能力、思辨能力和团队协作能力。本文总结了转基因作物安全性教学讨论课的成果。     

The science education of biology teachers

A report of a conference discussion at Nottingham on the need for augmenting the scientific knowledge of trainee biology teachers in University Departments of Education. Statistics were gathered from a sample of 64 students as a basis for the discussion. These indicate the extent to which the students lack training in relevant scientific subjects and in particular biological topics.     

Biological wastewater treatment model building fits and misfits

The modeling of biological wastewater treatment processes has received much attention over the past ten years. Efforts are underway to develop a unified model for these processes which will greatly aid in the design and operation of wastewater treatment facilities. This paper presents a philosophical discussion of model building strategies augmented by a discussion of statistical problems associated with model parameter estimation and model discrimination. This discussion further illustrates with actual data, that goodness of fit is not a sufficient condition for model acceptance. Numerous rival models are examined to illustrate this point. In order to verify a model or to discriminate between rival models, they must be “Put in jeopardy.” If this attitude is not employed in model building efforts, important discrepancies in the proposed model may go undetected.     

When (if ever) may doctors discuss religion with their patients?

There is ongoing debate within the bioethics literature regarding to what extent (if any) it is ethically justifiable for doctors to engage in religious discussion with their patients, in cases where patients cite religious considerations as influencing their medical decision-making. In this paper, we concede that certain forms of religious discussion between doctors and patients are morally permissible (though not necessarily morally obligatory), insofar as patients’ religious beliefs may comprise an important part of their overall wellbeing and can influence their medical decisions. However, we argue that it is not morally permissible for doctors to engage in substantive religious discussion with their patients, beyond simply inquiring about the patient's values (which may include their religious values) or referring patients to a chaplain or religious figure for further discussion. In support of this claim, we put forward two key arguments which have remained relatively unaddressed in the current debate. First, we argue that it is not practical for doctors to engage in substantive religious discussion with patients, and hence it cannot be morally obligatory for them to do so. Second, we argue that, while doctors might have a professional duty to ensure that their patient's religious interests (if any) are addressed, this does not entail that doctors themselves are the ones who should directly address these interests. Along the way, we anticipate and respond to some possible objections to these two key arguments.     

昆虫种群动态非线性建模理论与应用

本文以非线性动力学为基础,对自然界中昆虫种群动态的复杂性、不确定性进行了建模方法的探讨,在讨论了昆虫种群动态的混沌与非线性时间序列预测方法的前提下,以山东省玉米螟等种群动态资料进行了实例分析。     

Racialization and religion: race,culture and difference in the study of antisemitism and Islamophobia

Abstract

It is striking to observe the virtual absence of an established literature on race and racism in the discussion of Islamophobia; something that is only marginally more present in the discussion of antisemitism. This special issue of Ethnic and Racial Studies locates the contemporary study of antisemitism and Islamophobia squarely within the fields of race and racism. As such it problematizes the extent to which discussion of the racialization of these minorities remains unrelated to each other, or is explored in distinct silos as a series of internal debates. By harnessing the explanatory power of long-established organizing concepts within the study of race and racism, this special issue makes a historically informed, theoretical and empirical contribution to aligning these analytical pursuits.     

References to discussion

References to discussion     

Physicians debate Internet-related marital problems on CMA's online service

The Internet itself has been the topic recently on the CMA''s Internet-based discussion group for physicians, Clinical Q&A. A recent discussion involved physicians from around the country who have dealt with patients with marital problems related to the Internet. They concluded that the Internet may have made problems manifest, but the underlying issue--marital disharmony--already existed.     

How useful is the concept of habitat? – a critique

The following argument regarding the quantitative value of the habitat concept is presented for discussion purposes. The discussion is not intended as a review of the habitat-population literature (which is immense for any class of organism) and so does not include an exhaustive appeal to authority. Instead, the arguments are, largely, intended to stand or fall on their own merit, and the literature is used selectively to demonstrate a point.     

Imparting the diagnosis of life threatening illness in children.

The parents of children with life threatening or terminal illnesses were interviewed about their experiences of the way in which they were told the diagnosis. The interview was piloted on 25 families and then administered in a semistandardised manner to a further 45 families. Parents were asked how satisfied they were with the initial discussion about the diagnosis: 23 families were satisfied with how much information they were given; 22 with the information concerning prognosis; 20 with the pacing of the information; 33 with who was present; 32 with arrangements for follow up; and 26 were satisfied overall with the initial discussion. Clear patterns emerged about which elements of the discussion parents appreciated or resented. For example, they valued an open, sympathetic, direct, and uninterrupted discussion of the diagnosis in private that allowed sufficient time for them to take the news in and for doctors to repeat and clarify information. They disliked evasive or unsympathetic brief interviews. All parents remembered vividly the manner in which the diagnosis was imparted, and some were still preoccupied with this many years later. Analyses were carried out to test the possibility that reports of satisfaction and dissatisfaction were a function of current depression and anxiety, but no evidence was found for this.