Preservice Teacher Understanding and Vision of how to Teach Biological Evolution

The learning and teaching of biological evolution is conceptually challenging. To fully comprehend evolution, it is posited that individuals also need to understand the roles that the nature of science and situations of chance play in the process. The consistent detection of misconceptions of evolution suggests that new approaches to increasing understanding need to be explored. I predicted that preservice teachers’ ideas for teaching biological evolution could be influenced by three brief web-based interventions, one focused on the common misconceptions of evolution, one on the nature of science, and one on situations of uncertainty in the context of evolution. An experimental group received a combination of the three web-based tutorials while a control group received the misconceptions and nature of science instruction and a time on task filler tutorial. Participants were directed to develop a lesson idea applying the knowledge they learned from the tutorials. The lesson ideas were examined for evidence of the influence of the web-based instruction, participant understanding and misconceptions of concepts, and their ideas about teaching evolution. The results of this study revealed that the participating preservice teachers held a wide range of conception and misconception of evolution, were somewhat influenced by the tutorials, and had an array of visions for teaching evolution. The outcomes support the need for further investigation into the multifaceted nature of preparing preservice teachers to teach evolution.     

Physiological Responses and Tolerance Mechanisms to Cadmium in Conyza canadensis

Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of different concentrations of Cd on the performance of the Cd accumulator Conyza canadensis. Cd accumulation in roots and leaves (roots > leaves) increased with increasing Cd concentration in soil. High Cd concentration inhibited plant growth, increased the membrane permeability of leaves, and caused a significant decline in plant height and chlorophyll [chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, and total Chl] content. Leaf ultrastructural analysis of spongy mesophyllic cells revealed that excessive Cd concentrations cause adverse effects on the chloroplast and mitochondrion ultrastructures of C. canadensis. However, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, total non-protein SH compounds, glutathione, and phytochelatin (PC) concentrations, showed an overall increase. Specifically, the increase in enzyme activities demonstrated that the antioxidant system may play an important role in eliminating or alleviating the toxicity of Cd in C. canadensis. Furthermore, results demonstrate that PC synthesis in plant cells is related to Cd concentration and that PC production levels in plants are related to the toxic effects caused by soil Cd level. These findings demonstrate the roles played by these compounds in supporting Cd tolerance in C. canadensis.     

宽恕的生理及神经机制研究进展

宽恕作为人类所独有一种美德,对人们来说并不陌生,但对于宽恕的系统研究却仅始于上个世纪80、90年代。本文采用文献法着重从生理心理、神经证据等方面对宽恕认知神经科学方面的研究进行了梳理和整合,最后对该研究领域未来的发展方向进行了展望。     

Eye Movement Mechanisms in Normal and Pathological Vision

1. The psychological, psychophysiological and neurological literature has long since taken note of that most intimate relationship existing between visual perception of objects and their depictions, and eye movements.     

Physiological Mechanisms of Inflammation and Atopic Allergy

The authors believe that the allergic reaction is a complex of pathologically enhanced mechanisms of a certain stage of inflammation. It was shown that the manifestations and severity of an allergic reaction depend not only on the presence and activity of specific factors (the allergen–antibody complex) but also on the nonspecific components causing the potent uncontrollable action of the inflammatory mediators. The authors discuss measures of laboratory diagnosis of different allergic processes and the problem of optimal antiallergic treatment based on controlled body detoxication.     

黄芪幼苗对镉胁迫的生理响应机制

以我国传统药用植物黄芪(Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bunge)幼苗为材料,在水培条件下系统研究了不同程度Cd胁迫对黄芪生长发育、矿质元素吸收转运以及次生代谢产物积累的影响。25~200μmol·L^-1Cd处理显著抑制了黄芪幼苗根系和地上部的生长并引起了植株MDA含量的显著升高以及新生叶片光合色素含量的降低,表明Cd处理对黄芪幼苗造成了较为明显的伤害。植株中吸收的Cd主要积累在黄芪幼苗根系,而运输到地上部的Cd积累规律为顶端<中部<基部,显示出黄芪幼苗可以通过对Cd的区域化降低其在地上部新生组织的积累。Cd处理降低了植株对多种矿质营养元素的吸收和转运,但是Ca和Mg却分别在地上部顶端和基部出现了明显的含量升高,推测其可能与降低Cd在新生组织的毒害作用以及提高老叶的Cd耐性有关。此外,根系中4种异黄酮物质的含量在Cd处理下明显升高,黄芪皂苷Ⅰ-Ⅳ的含量则被Cd处理所降低,暗示着异黄酮而非皂苷类物质在黄芪幼苗根系应对Cd胁迫中发挥了积极作用。     

Xanthones and Cancer: from Natural Sources to Mechanisms of Action

Xanthones are a class of heterocyclic natural products that have been widely studied for their pharmacological potential. In fact, they have been serving as scaffolds for the design of derivatives focusing on drug development. One of the main study targets of xanthones is their anticancer activity. Several compounds belonging to this class have already demonstrated cytotoxic and antitumor effects, making it a promising group for further exploration. This review therefore focuses on recently published studies, emphasizing their natural and synthetic sources and describing the main mechanisms of action responsible for the anticancer effect of promising xanthones.     

植物响应镉胁迫的生理生化机制研究进展

镉(Cd)是一种分布广泛且污染严重的重金属;其毒性大,不仅影响植物的生长发育,而且危害人类健康。该文对植物Cd胁迫的生理生化响应方面的最新研究进展进行了总结概括。从植物光合系统、活性氧、活性氮、抗氧化防御系统、激素、钙信号、蛋白和基因等方面,概述了植物对Cd胁迫的响应及应答机制,探讨了植物对Cd胁迫响应机制的研究方向,...     

甲醇对植物的作用及其生理机制

甲醇是植物生长发育和代谢过程中体内产生的最简单的一碳化合物之一,与植物的很多生理过程(如光合作用、C1-四氢叶酸和某些植物激素生物合成以及植物耐逆性等)密切相关。本文对近年来国内外有关植物中甲醇的产生与释放途径、体内代谢、外施甲醇对植物的效应及其生理机制等方面研究进行了综述,并提出存在的问题和今后研究方向。     

Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals: Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms

Heavy metals (HM) are a unique class of toxicants since they cannot be broken down to non-toxic forms. Concentration of these heavy metals has increased drastically, posing problems to health and environment, since the onset of the industrial revolution. Once the heavy metals contaminate the ecosystem, they remain a potential threat for many years. Some technologies have long been in use to remove, destroy and sequester these hazardous elements. Even though effective techniques for cleaning the contaminated soils and waters are usually expensive, labour intensive, and often disturbing. Phytoremediation, a fast-emerging new technology for removal of toxic heavy metals, is cost-effective, non-intrusive and aesthetically pleasing. It exploits the ability of selected plants to remediate pollutants from contaminated sites. Plants have inter-linked physiological and molecular mechanisms of tolerance to heavy metals. High tolerance to HM toxicity is based on a reduced metal uptake or increased internal sequestration, which is manifested by interaction between a genotype and its environment. The growing interest in molecular genetics has increased our understanding of mechanisms of HM tolerance in plants and many transgenic plants have displayed increased HM tolerance. Improvement of plants by genetic engineering, i.e., by modifying characteristics like metal uptake, transport and accumulation and plant’s tolerance to metals, opens up new possibilities of phytoremediation. This paper presents an overview of the molecular and physiological mechanisms involved in the phytoremediation process, and discusses strategies for engineering plants genetically for this purpose.     

Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms Involved in the Response to Abscisic Acid in Maize Coleoptiles

The role of abscisic acid (ABA) in controlling growth and developmenthas been studied in maize (Zea mays L.) coleoptile segments.Application of ABA reduces the elongation rate by about 50%and affects ion fluxes. In particular, proton extrusion is decreasedwhile potassium efflux is greatly enhanced. Apparently, ABAdoes not: seem to influence calcium influx from the apoplastinto the cytosol, but more likely it influences its efflux.Alteration of cytosolic calcium concentration may also be obtainedby increasing its release from internal stores. This possibilitymight be sustained by the increased hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositolupon ABA application. Change in the balance of ion fluxes shouldresult from regulation of transport mechanisms at the membranelevel and should produce changes in the transmembrane electricalpotential. The H⁺- ATPase and the ATP-dependent calcium transportactivities are both influenced by the treatment with ABA, –55%and –40%, respectively. Under these conditions [Ca²⁺]_cytand pH_cyt can be modified and, as a consequence of their regulation,they may play an important role in mediating the physiologicaland biochemical effects of ABA, acting as second intracellularmessengers. ¹Research supported by National Research Council of Italy, SpecialProject RAISA, Sub-Project N. 2, Paper n. 2782.     

Physiological Mechanisms of Respiratory Phenomena in Anxiety and Depressive Disorders

An analysis is presented of the current views on the functional respiratory disorders associated with depressive and panic disorders. The following subjects are discussed: the phenomenology of the problem, modern diagnostic methods, the role of hypocapnia in the symptomatological development of panic disorders, the relative contributions of psychogenic and biological factors in developing respiratory disorders, and the distinctions between dyspnea and the hyperventilation syndrome.     

肝窦内皮细胞生理功能及病理过程的分子机制

肝窦内皮细胞（liver sinusoidal endothelial cell,LSEC）是肝非实质细胞的主要细胞群,具有物质转运、吞噬、抗原提呈、免疫耐受等功能. 肝在遭到多种病原侵袭时,肝窦内皮细胞窗孔逐渐减少或消失,内皮下基膜形成,产生类似于连续型毛细血管的结构,这一过程称为肝窦毛细血管化. 它由多种因素引起,其过程极复杂,在多种肝病的发病前期阶段均有出现,近年来受到广泛关注. 而目前关于肝窦内皮细胞的生理功能及病理机制研究方面的系统总结仍少有报道. 本文对肝窦内皮细胞的生理功能及肝窦病理机制作一较为全面的综述. 除了阐述肝窦毛细血管化自身分子机制的研究进展外,还重点介绍了肝窦毛细血管化参与肝多种疾病发病过程的作用机制. 此外,对肝窦内皮细胞相关的研究方法也作了详细的介绍,为全面了解肝窦内皮细胞生理功能及肝窦毛细血管化的分子机理提供参考.     

巴西橡胶树响应低温逆境的生理特征及其调控机制

低温是非传统植胶区巴西橡胶树（Hevea brasiliensis）种植的重要限制因子。低温能够引起巴西橡胶树细胞结构、原生质胶体特性、水分状况、细胞渗透压、光合作用、呼吸作用、物质代谢和保护酶系统等发生一系列改变,最终影响植株的生长发育。目前已从巴西橡胶树中克隆出一些抗寒相关基因,但是巴西橡胶树响应低温胁迫的调控机制仍不十分清楚。本文综述了巴西橡胶树对低温逆境响应的生理特征及其应答调控机制,以期为深入研究巴西橡胶树抗寒机制提供参考。