High Performance Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography-A New Approach to Separate Intermediates of Protein Folding──Ⅰ.Separation of Intermediates of Urea-unfolded α-Amylase

Based on the different hydrophobicities of the intermediates of proteins the various conformational intermediates of the refolding of a-amylase originally denatured with 8.0 mol/L urea solution were separated with high performance hydrophobic interaction chromatography(HPHIC). Compared to the separation of the same intermediates with weak anion exchange chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography the result obtained with HPHIC is the best It would be expected that HPHIC may be a strongly potential tool to separate intermediates of some proteins which cannot be, or cannot completely be refolded by HPHIC.

A Discussion on the Pedagogical Concepts in Confucian Analects from the View of the Pedagogy of Performed Culture Approach

Confucian Analects contains many pedagogical concepts and viewpoints that have a significant influence on China’s culture and history.Many of the concepts can be interpreted and understood from the perspective of the pedagogy of Performed Culture Approach.This paper investigates the meanings of some Confucian pedagogical discussions and thoughts,such as communicating with other social members,the relationship between language and behavior,multiple procedures in learning,and how social contexts affect one’s language and performance in the Analects,which is mainly from the perspective of the relationship between language and Performed Culture Approach.

OSH star enterprise pilot scheme——a partnership approach to improve the safety performance of construction industry in Hong Kong SAR

Background: The Occupational Safety and Health Council(OSHC) is committed to improve the safety performance of the high risk construction industry.In the past three years,about 40% of the fatal accidents in the construction industry were related to Renovation,Maintenance,Alteration and Addition(RMAA).Due to the poor safety record,some of the RMAA contractors have difficulty in obtaining the Employees' Compensation Insurance(ECI) cover in the market,or if they could obtain the ECI,the premium rate would be exceedingly high.In view of this,the OSHC,the Labour Department jointly launched"OSH Star Enterprise-Pilot Scheme on Safety Accreditation for the RMAA Industry",which prompts the industry to take practicable safety measures to improve the safety of working environment and reduce occupational injuries.The program also helps the stakeholders and insurers to identify safety-conscious contractors and thereby provide them with a favourable premium rate under the Employees' Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme(ECIRS).Objectives: The OSHC launches the Pilot Scheme to improve the safety performance of the RMAA industry through providing safety training,subsidizing enterprise to purchase safety equipment and providing safety audit.We also use financial incentive to encourage RMAA enterprises to join the Pilot Scheme-for those who are accredited as "OSH Star Enterprise"could receive a premium discount from the ERIRS when obtaining the ECI.The scheme also differentiates those safety-conscious and law-abiding enterprises from the poor performers,which helps the industry and public identifying the RMAA contractors who pay attention to work safety.Methods: The Pilot Scheme targets RMAA enterprises that employ less than 50 employees in Hong Kong.A three-pronged approach is used to improve the safety performance of the RMAA industry: the Pilot Scheme provides(1) financial support for the RMAA contractors to buy a transportable temporary anchor device and full body safety harness and its anchor system;(2) safety training on RMAA work safety and safety & health supervisor course;and(3) safety audit.Results: Enterprises that successfully pass the safety audit and satisfied the Scheme requirements will be accredited as"OSH Star Enterprise",which will be valid for two years.These enterprises can also be upgraded to"OSH Gold Star Enterprise"based on their continuous improvement in safety performance.OSHC will set up a register of OSH-accredited enterprises in RMAA works for reference of the public to facilitate their choosing of accredited contractors.The Employees' Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau will provide privileged premium rate for enterprises with OSH accreditation."OSH Star Enterprise"could enjoy 40% discounts when joining their insurance scheme.For example,a skilled worker's annual premium can be reduced by about HK $ 36,000.While,the "OSH Gold Star Enterprise"could enjoy 50% discounts when joining their insurance scheme,which means a skilled worker's annual premium can be reduced up to HK $ 45,000.Achievements: This Pilot Scheme offers practical assistance as well as attractive financial incentives for the RMAA industry to improve their safety performance.The Employees'Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme provides premium discounts for enterprises that have a good safety record.It provides incentive for RMAA contractors to actively participate in the Pilot Scheme.The Scheme demonstrates that by providing a safe working environment and appropriate personal protective equipment to workers,the enterprise not only helps to reduce the accident rate of the industry but also receive an economic return.The Pilot Scheme bridges stakeholders of RMAA industry,the government and the insurance industry creating an "all-win"situation.This partnership approach to prevent injuries and accidents in the construction industry could be an effective model for other industries.

An Uncertainty Analysis and Reliability-Based Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Method Using Fourth-Moment Saddlepoint Approximation

In uncertainty analysis and reliability-based multidisciplinary design and optimization(RBMDO)of engineering structures,the saddlepoint approximation(SA)method can be utilized to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of reliability evaluation.However,the random variables involved in SA should be easy to handle.Additionally,the corresponding saddlepoint equation should not be complicated.Both of them limit the application of SA for engineering problems.The moment method can construct an approximate cumulative distribution function of the performance function based on the first few statistical moments.However,the traditional moment matching method is not very accurate generally.In order to take advantage of the SA method and the moment matching method to enhance the efficiency of design and optimization,a fourth-moment saddlepoint approximation(FMSA)method is introduced into RBMDO.In FMSA,the approximate cumulative generating functions are constructed based on the first four moments of the limit state function.The probability density function and cumulative distribution function are estimated based on this approximate cumulative generating function.Furthermore,the FMSA method is introduced and combined into RBMDO within the framework of sequence optimization and reliability assessment,which is based on the performance measure approach strategy.Two engineering examples are introduced to verify the effectiveness of proposed method.

Decay rate performance approach for stabilization continuous fuzzy models using their discretized forms

Purpose–The purpose of this paper is to deal with the stabilization of the continuous Takagi Sugeno(TS)fuzzy models using their discretized forms based on the decay rate performance approach.Design/methodology/approach–This approach is structured as follows:first,a discrete model is obtained from the discretization of the continuous TS fuzzy model.The discretized model is obtained from the Euler approximation method which is used for several orders.Second,based on the decay rate stabilization conditions,the gains of a non-PDC control law ensuring the stabilization of the discrete model are determined.Third by keeping the values of the gains,the authors determine the values of the performance criterion and the authors check by simulation the stability of the continuous TS fuzzy models through the zero order hold.Findings–The proposed idea lead to compare the performance continuous stability results with the literature.The comparison is,also,taken between the quadratic and non-quadratic cases.Originality/value–Therefore,the originality of this paper consists in the improvement of the continuous fuzzy models by using their discretized models.In this case,the effect of the discretization step on the performances of the continuous TS fuzzy models is studied.The usefulness of this approach is shown through two examples.

Integrating Culture into Beginner-Level Chinese Language Teaching

Culture is widely regarded as imperative for foreign language (FL) education because culture and language intertwine when people use language for communication. Many teachers and scholars who agree with this argument tend to integrate culture into advanced-level language courses. However, culture is insufficiently integrated into beginner-level FL courses. This insufficiency comes from teachers’ limited cultural literacy regarding the integration of communicative culture into beginner-level language courses. It also reflects inadequacies of the mainstream FL pedagogical frameworks and paradigms. In an increasingly globalized world, highlighting the role of culture in FL curricula can help people understand FL programs’ contributions to educating globalized citizens. Culture is particularly important for U.S. Chinese language education because Chinese is a truly difficult language for English-speaking learners and relies heavily on culture to make communication successful. This article analyzes five approaches to integrating culture into language instruction: (1) culture exists as “add-ons” in Chinese language education;(2) culture provides contexts to understand language behaviors;(3) culture conventionally forms a specific linguistic system;(4) culture and language intertwine and merge into linguistic codes and language behaviors;and (5) culturally- situated speech events work as sequencing units to organize Chinese language curricula. These approaches are discussed and exemplified through beginner-level Chinese language examples. Overall, this article provides Chinese teachers with specific strategies for integrating Chinese culture into beginner-level Chinese language teaching.