New approaches to restructuring school biology

Two structuring principles are discussed which both drop the old ‘systematic’ (taxonomic as well as subdiscipline-bound) way of structuring biological subject matter. They lead to a biology curriculum with great social and inter-disciplinary impact.     

Molecular Cloning of a Vernalization related cDNA Clone (Vrc) of Vrc79 in Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Vernalization is an essential factor in the flowering development of cold-required plants. There is a key stage of nucleic acid metabolism in the process of vernalization in winter wheat. To probe into the molecular determinants of vernalization, a cDNA library presumably enriching vernalization-related genes was prepared by specially expressed mRNAs from winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Jingdong No. 1) plumules at the key stage of 21 d vernalization being recovered as cDNAs after subtraction with mRNAs from nonvernalized and devernalized plumules. One vernalization-related cDNA clone (Vrc), Vrc79, which was only expressed at the key stage of 21 d vernalization, but not at other stages of nonvernalization, 4 d vernalization and devemalization, was isolated by differential screening of the library, and shown to be a vernalization-specific clone by Northern blot. Result of homology search suggested that Vrc79 was a novel gene identified in higher plant which was different from the cold-stress-induced genes and might play an important role in the floral induction in vernalization-requiring plants.     

REHABILITATION AND RELEASE OF MARINE MAMMALS IN THE UNITED STATES: RISKS AND BENEFITS

Rehabilitation of stranded marine mammals elicits polarized attitudes: initially done alongside display collections, but release of rehabilitated animals has become more common. Justifications include animal welfare, management of beach use conflict, research, conservation, and public education. Rehabilitation cost and risks have been identified that vary in degree supported by data rather than perception. These include conflict with fisheries for resources, ignorance of recipient population ecology, poor understanding of long-term survival, support of the genetically not-so-fit, introduction of novel or antibiotic-resistant pathogens, harm to human health, and cost. Thus facilities must balance their welfare appeal against public education, habitat restoration, human impact reduction, and other conservation activities. Benefits to rehabilitating marine mammals are the opportunity to support the welfare of disabled animals and to publish good science and so advance our understanding of wild populations. In specific cases, the status of a population may make conservation the main reason for rehabilitation. These three reasons for rehabilitation lead to contrasting, and sometimes conflicting, management needs. We therefore outline a decision tree for rehabilitation managers using criteria for each management decision, based on welfare, logistics, conservation, research, and funding to define limits on the number of animals released to the wild.     

高职生物制药专业细胞培养技术课程教学改革与实践

细胞培养技术是高职生物制药专业核心课程之一,也是一门应用性、实践性强的课程。当前高职生物制药专业文理兼招,大部分学生细胞生物学基础比较薄弱,普遍对该课程的学习产生厌学,教学效果较差。为此在细胞培养技术课程教学中,以细胞培养岗位工作任务为引领,以强化技能训练为主导,将细胞培养理论知识融合于岗位工作任务之中,构建了项目化课程体系,教学方法改革创新、多措并举,考核方式多元化。结果表明：通过课程改革与实践,培养了学生的细胞培养技术动手操作能力和创新思维能力创,激发了学生学习兴趣,取得了显著教学效果。     

Barotropic and thermotropic bilayer phase behavior of positional isomers of unsaturated mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines

The bilayer phase transitions of six kinds of mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines (PCs) with an unsaturated acyl chain in the sn-1 or sn-2 position, 1-oleoyl-2-stearoyl- (OSPC), 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl- (SOPC), 1-oleoyl-2-palmitoyl- (OPPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl- (POPC), 1-oleoyl-2-myristoyl- (OMPC) and 1-myristoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (MOPC), were observed by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and high-pressure light transmittance measurements. Bilayer membranes of SOPC, POPC and MOPC with an unsaturated acyl chain in the sn-2 position exhibited only one phase transition, which was identified as the main transition between the lamellar gel (L_β) and liquid crystalline (L_α) phases. On the other hand, the bilayer membranes of OSPC, OPPC and OMPC with an unsaturated acyl chain in the sn-1 position exhibited not only the main transition but also a transition from the lamellar crystal (L_c) to the L_β (or L_α) phase. The stability of their gel phases was markedly affected by pressure and chain length of the saturated acyl chain in the sn-2 position. Considering the effective chain lengths of unsaturated mixed-chain PCs, the difference in the effective chain length between the sn-1 and sn-2 acyl chains was proven to be closely related to the temperature difference of the main transition. That is, a mismatch of the effective chain length promotes a temperature difference of the main transition between the positional isomers. Anomalously small volume changes of the L_c/L_α transition for the OPPC and OMPC bilayers were found despite their large enthalpy changes. This behavior is attributable to the existence of a cis double bond and to significant inequivalence between the sn-1 and sn-2 acyl chains, which brings about a small volume change for chain melting due to loose chain packing, corresponding to a large partial molar volume, even in the L_c phase. Further, the bilayer behavior of unsaturated mixed-chain PCs containing an unsaturated acyl chain in the sn-1 or sn-2 position was well explained by the chemical-potential diagram of a lipid in each phase.     

Need for gerodontology education in India

Objectives: To evaluate the status and need for education in Geriatric Dentistry in India. Materials and methods: The status of dental education in India was studied. India has 185 dental schools producing 12 000 dental graduates every year. At postgraduate level, there are nine recognised specialities in Dentistry, and approximately 58 institutions offer 1160 places for postgraduate degree courses. Dental education is shaped and administered by the Dental Council of India. Results: So far, Geriatric dentistry has not developed as a separate, independent speciality at postgraduate level. The undergraduate curriculum does not have any significant component of geriatric dentistry. The lack of training results in poor understanding of special needs of older adults in young graduates. Without adequate training and personal experience of growing old, young graduates may not be able to understand the physical, socio‐economic and psychological problems of the elderly and the complexities involved in treatment planning for patients with multiple chronic diseases and medication. Conclusions: It is emphasized that geriatric dentistry should be included in each of the pre‐clinical, para‐clinical and clinical subjects at the undergraduate level. Graduate students should be encouraged to treat elderly patients in clinics under supervision using a multi‐disciplinary approach. Also, postgraduate diploma and degree courses in geriatric dentistry should be developed to address the needs of the vast elderly population in India.     

Patterns of bushmeat hunting and perceptions of disease risk among central African communities

There is a great need to determine the factors that influence the hunting, butchering and eating of bushmeat to better manage the important social, public health and conservation consequences of these activities. In particular, the hunting and butchering of wild animals can lead to the transmission of diseases that have potentially serious consequences for exposed people and their communities. Comprehension of these risks may lead to decreased levels of these activities. To investigate these issues, 3971 questionnaires were completed to examine the determinants of the hunting, butchering and eating of wild animals and perceptions of disease risk in 17 rural central African villages. A high proportion of individuals reported perceiving a risk of disease infection with bushmeat contact. Individuals who perceived risk were significantly less likely to butcher wild animals than those who perceived no risk. However, perception of risk was not associated with hunting and eating bushmeat (activities that, compared with butchering, involve less contact with raw blood and body fluids). This suggests that some individuals may act on perceived risk to avoid higher risk activity. These findings reinforce the notion that conservation programs in rural villages in central Africa should include health-risk education. This has the potential to reduce the levels of use of wild animals, particularly of certain endangered species (e.g. many non-human primates) that pose a particular risk to human health. However, as the use of wild game is likely to continue, people should be encouraged to undertake hunting and butchering more safely for their own and their community's health.     

Effect of temperature and guanidine hydrochloride on ferrocytochrome<Emphasis Type="Italic"> c</Emphasis> at neutral pH

Thermally denatured horse heart ferrocytochrome c (ferrocyt c) has been characterized using absorption spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and viscometry at pH 7.0. DSC experiments have yielded the transition temperature of denaturant-free ferrocyt c unfolding as 100.6±0.3 °C, indicating an extremely high stability of the protein. The presence of guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) facilitated estimation of the structural features of thermally unfolded ferrocyt c. The stability of the protein, expressed by G _D at 25 °C, is 59±5 kJ mol^–1 (DSC) and 65±6 kJ mol^–1 (absorption spectroscopy). An absorption spectrum of ferrocyt c demonstrates that the heme occurs in the high-spin state at extreme denaturing conditions (94 °C, 6.6 M GdnHCl). Absorption spectroscopy, using heme as a probe, shows that thermal denaturation of ferrocyt c occurs as a transition from a native low-spin (Met80/His18) to a high-spin disordered state with involvement of non-native, low-spin (bis-His) species.Abbreviations CD circular dichroism - cyt c cytochrome c - DSC differential scanning calorimetry - ferricyt c ferricytochrome c - ferrocyt c ferrocytochrome c - GdnHCl guanidine hydrochloride - NHE normal hydrogen electrode     

Visitor interest in zoo animals and the implications for collection planning and zoo education programmes

As zoos have sought to further their conservation missions, they have become powerful providers of environmental education. Outside of “formal” education initiatives, such as those designed for school and other organized groups, or structured public talks programmes, much of the learning potential that the zoo has to offer is around the viewing of animals and the response of visitors to them. In this, zoo learning is a very personal construct, develops from the previous knowledge, and experiences and motivations of each individual. In this article, we make the assertion that learning potential, although difficult to quantify, is very much related to the attractiveness of animal species and the interest that visitors show in them. Using standard behaviorist measures of attraction and interest (the proportion of visitors that stop and for how long), we analyzed the relative interest in 40 zoo species held in a modern UK zoo and the variables that are significant in predicting that popularity. Further to this, the suggestion is made that the zoo collection planning process could use such information to make more informed decisions about which species should be housed for their educational value. Taxonomic grouping was found to be the most significant predictor of visitor interest—that is, visitors were far more interested in mammals than any other group—although body size (length), increasing animal activity and whether the species was the primary or “flagship” species in an exhibit or not, were all found to have a significant bearing on visitor interest. Zoo Biol 29:715–731, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

成人不典型肺结核的CT 表现及鉴别诊断分析( 附30 例报告)

目的：回顾性分析成人不典型肺结核的CT表现,探讨与其他同影性疾病的鉴别方法,做到早诊断早治疗,减低病人的治疗成本和思想负担。方法：选择性收集病变不典型。CT影像检壹曾误诊或诊断困难的病例30例做回顾性分析。所有病例均有最后治疗结果或术后病理结果证实。结果：节段性阴影12例,局灶性斑片及斑点状影8例,散在少数小结节样影4例,多发结节并空洞影3例,肺内弥漫分布的粟粒结节影3例,肺内阴影伴有肺门淋巴结及纵隔淋巴结肿大者9例以青壮年病人吸收较快,病程较短,以粟粒影和大片影表现者吸收最快。讨论：对于不典型的成人肺结核,不能片面的强调或突出某一方面征象,年龄因素、临床症状、实验室检查如结核茵素试验（PPD）、痰结核茵培养、抗结核抗体阳性在鉴别诊断中有着重要意义。进一步正确认识及探究病变的影像特点,对于正确的诊断提供了强有力的理论根据。