Evaluation of Technical Education by Using a Modern Structured MOODLE Laboratory Course, in Relation to Recent Data

E-learning platforms support education systems worldwide, transferring theoretical knowledge as well as soft skills. In the present study high-school pupils’, and adult students’ opinions were evaluated through a modern structured MOODLE interactive course, designed for the needs of the laboratory course “Automotive Systems”. The study concerns Greek secondary vocational education pupils aged 18 and vocational training adult students aged 20 to 50 years. The multistage, equal size simple random cluster sample was used as a sampling method. Pupils and adult students of each cluster completed structured 10-question questionnaires both before and after attending the course. A total of 120 questionnaires were collected. In general, our findings disclosed that the majority of pupils and adult students had significantly improved their knowledge and skills from using MOODLE. They reported strengthening conventional teaching, using the new MOODLE technology. The satisfaction indices improved quite, with the differences in their mean values being statistically significant.

Cultural Distance: How is it defined, how is it measured, and what is its relevance to international marketers?

This essay analyses the meaning of culture and in particular aims at reviewing different tools to measure differences between cultures — the so-called cultural distance. Two major tools are considered in detail: Hall's High Vs Low context culture(1977) and Hofstede's Five Cultural Dimensions(1991). The conclusion of this essay draws on the weaknesses of existing systems and suggests the introduction of a‘cultural distance segmentation'that would change global companies' tendency of uniformity in their messages to a more adaptive message amongst different cultures.

Study on Origin and Cultural Connotation of Names in English-speaking Countries

The names in English-speaking countries are full of historical origin and cultural connotation. For the significance of family name and given name, this paper focus on the origin and culture connotation of family name and given name, and also the hidden influences of name played on human beings. Moreover, the relationship between development of society and English name will also be concerned because we can not ignore that the development of society has made great effects to English name.According to the whole essay, we can easily realize the origin and connotation of English name through all my researches and analyses.

From Grinding Hollows to Information Communication Technology through Media in Selecting Prospective Fiancées: Evidence from Wasukuma Socio-Cultural Practices in Tanzania

This paper presents results from investigation of cultural transformations exhibited by Wasukuma youth in regard to getting fiancées in Ngasamo ward, Busega district, Simiyu region, Tanzania. The Main Objective was to assess the manner former Wasukuma young men used mega-stone objects in selecting prospective fiancées and compare with the current trend of using media in some areas of Bariadi district, Simiyu region. Specific Objectives included the following: to relocate tangible cultural heritage resources (mega-stones) used by Wasukuma young men in former times for getting fiancées in Simiyu region;to identify electronic media used by Wasukuma young men of today to communicate in a bid to get fiancées in Simiyu region;and to provide suggestions for pertinent protection, conservation as well as presentation of cultural heritage resources. Such investigation was carried out through surveys that included field observation, documentation together with records for Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates per surveyed locality and key informant interviews. Results from the study identified granite rock boulders that were used as grinding stones for cereals such that they formed grinding hollows. Besides production of flour for making food like stiff porridge or soft porridge, such grinding hollows were used by youth of former times to identify hard working young ladies who could be useful for becoming life partners. Such cultural heritage assets need sustainable preservation as well as conservation plans in line with Antiqui-ties Act, Antiquities Rules and Monuments of 1980, Cultural Policy of 1997 together with Antiquities Policy of 2008. On the other hand, today’s youth in Bariadi area, Simiyu region and elsewhere in Usukuma areas, for instance, Kwimba district in Mwanza region used such mega-stones with the same purposes. However, currently, youth are using Information Communication Technology (ICT), for example, electronic media through television, mobile phones and the like to communicate with young ladies so as to build a permanent bond that could culminate to marriage.

A Cultural E-Government Readiness Model

E-Government is defined as a system utilizing the Internet and the world-wide-web for delivering government informa-tion and services to citizens. This system reduces the processing costs, improves service delivery, and increases trans-parency and communication between a government and its citizens. The aim of this paper is to propose a new model to measure the readiness of e-Government according to cultural factors. By assessing to which degree these cultural factors are present/absent in a country and which of them have a significant impact on government readiness, the government will be able to identify their weakness and strength points, then build a preparing plan that can help them to achieve the readiness required toward a successful implementation of the e-Government systems.

The Application of E-learning and Distance Learning Technologies to Crew Education and Training in the Russian Federation

The article examines the world experience of e-learning as well as distance education technologies within the education process organization on higher and post-higher education programs.There have been listed the results of the most popular e-learning platforms analysis.Furthermore,there have been looked through the core legislative background of the development of the mentioned technologies in Russia and worldwide among the universities,specialized in seafarers training.There have been also drawn up the points of the Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping(Admiral Makarov SUMIS)design of the distance education system LMS"FARWATER"in compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training,Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers(STCW Convention).The practical application of distance education system to the advanced professional training has been discussed in the article.

A View on English Politeness from a Cultural Perspective

Politeness plays an important role in human communication.As a socio-pragmatic phenomenon,its actual manifestations and standards for judgment are culturally different due to the influence of cultural value orientations.This paper analyzes the characteristics of English politeness from a cultural perspective.It aims to improve our understanding of English politeness and cross-cultural awareness.

Problems in C-E Translation of Company Profiles from the Perspective of Linguistic and Cultural Differences Between Chinese and English and Counter Measures

Company profile, as an important propaganda media, plays a crucial role in the growth of Chinese companies and their expansion into the international market. By making comparison between Chinese company profiles and English company profiles in diction, syntax features, passage features, thought patterns and culture, and analyzing C-E translation errors in the company profiles, the writer expect to offer targeted measures to improve the C-E company profiles of Chinese enterprises. To improve the C- E translation of Chinese enterprises, translators need to focus on the following things: the absorbing of source language text, enough communication with people from different cultures and comparative study of Chinese and English.

Study on Ethnical Bamboo Culture Ecotourism in Yunnan Province

As a specific region most abundant in bamboo species and their natural forests i n the world, China's Yunnan Province harbors over 250 bamboo species belongin g to 28 genera in its 331 000?hm\+2 of bamboo forests,thus forming a unique macro\| ba ckground of its ecotourist landscape resources.Not only is it acknowledged as on e of the original places and modern distribution centers of bamboo by scientists ,but it is a region with diverse ethnical and bamboo cultures nurtured out of th e peculiar ethnical customs and wide bamboo utilization of its 26 nationalities. Based on the analyses of the ornamental bamboo and its value in landscape resour ces,5 aesthetic characteristics are microscopically and morphologically approach ed as a material base of the formation of bamboo culture.By reexamining the macr o\|background of the specific natural and humanity landscape,4 categories are de scribed as fundamental macro\|landscape resources of Yunnan's bamboo culture eco tourism.After researching the ethnical ecological ethics and cultural symbolism, 3 typical ethnical traditions are summarized as traditional ecological awareness ,and 3 cultural features of bamboo are revealed as essence of ethnical bamboo cu lture preserved in Yunnan.Borrowing some theories from the new economic developm ent,innovation and successful ecotourist management experience at home and abroa d with wide academic vision,the authors have synthetically studied the substanti al,conceptual and symbolic landscapes in a broad field involving bamboo science, ethnology,ecology,ecoeconomics and tourist management.A preliminary theory of e thnical bamboo culture is thus constructed,and its peculiarities are briefly dis cussed while the correlation between ethnical bamboo culture and the natural res ources,other cultures as well as ecotourist development are systematically analy zed to lay a solid theoretical foundation and reliable scientific basis for ecoe conomy\|oriented forestry,cultural economics and ecotourist practice.Accordingly ,3 primary strategies and certain related principles are suggested for the susta inable development of ecotourism in Yunnan via effective protection and rational exploitation of abundant natural landscape resources and colorful humanity land scape resources including ethnical bamboo culture.

Williams E无血清培养基中绵羊皮肤游离毛囊的培养

[目的]为研究哺乳动物毛囊的生长机理提供依据。[方法]将分离的蒙古绵羊皮肤毛囊接种到Williams E无血清培养基上,研究蒙古绵羊皮肤毛囊的体外生长规律,并分析在Williams E无血清培养基中添加胰岛素和氢化可的松对绵羊皮肤毛囊生长和形态的影响。[结果]在Williams E无血清培养基上,87.5%绵羊皮肤毛囊生长良好,其平均生长期为19 d,平均生长长度为0.15 mm/d,前6 d的生长速度最快。在培养前15 d,毛囊形态结构无明显变化。随着培养时间延长,毛囊逐渐增长,外根鞘和毛根不断延长,真皮鞘变薄。22 d后,毛囊出现贴壁,角朊细胞从外根鞘上移出,毛囊生长速度减慢。添加胰岛素和氢化可的松有维持毛囊形态的作用。[结论]该研究为检测某些细胞因子和药物提供了模型。

Needs Analysis of English Culture Background Introduction in Spoken English Classes

With globalization there is an increasing need for spoken English for Chinese college students. However, the situation of the teaching system of spoken English in most universities in China is not satisfactory. Influenced by the exam-oriented teaching system, great importance has been put on English grammar and the skills of reading and writing. As a result, students'enthusiasm in improving their spoken English is diminished. Actually, students need some knowledge about English culture background before they can communicate effectively. It is significant for teachers to find out the students'wants and lacks during their spoken English study. Besides, attentions should be paid to English culture background in spoken English classes by both teachers and students. This paper mainly aimed at finding out the needs of students for English culture background in spoken English classes based on the theory of needs analysis.

On C-E Translation of Chinese Tang Poetry from the Perspective of Ecotranslatology

Tang poetry is a shining pearl in the history of Chinese literature.C-E translation of Tang poetry is regarded as a very complex and hard task because of its special style and form,concise diction and profound artistic conception.Eco-translatology provides a new perspective for the study on C-E translation of Tang poetry.Based on analysis of some practical examples,this paper discusses some C-E translation methods of tang poetry from the perspective of eco-translatology,namely,adaptive transformation from linguistic,cultural and communicative dimensions.

Adherence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli to human primary epithelial cells of renal pelvis

Human primary epithelial cells of renal pelvis was established to investigate the adherence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli （UPEC） to this cell line, in which the primary cell culture was performed by using cultivation of the normal epithelium of renal pelvis in keratinocyte serum free medium （K-SFM） with epidermal growth factor （EGF） and bovine pituitary extract （BPE）. Both UPEC132 obtained from urine specimen of patients with pyelonephritis and the pilus-free representative strain E. coli K-12p678- 54 were used to study the adherence of these strains on human primary epithelial cells of renal pelvis. The UPEC adherence was performed with observation on the morphological changes of the adhered cells, while the adhesion rates and indices were calculated in different times of experiment. In addition, the virulence genes hly and cnfl of UPEC132 were detected by multiplex PCR assay. In this study, the human primary epithelial cells of renal pelvis was found to exhibit the character of the transitional epithelial cells. Compared with the control group, the adhesion rates and indices began to increase from 15 min of the experiment time and reached its peak in 120 min. The adhesion rate and index of UPEC132 to human primary epithelial cells of renal pelvis were 74.4% and 34.0 respectively. Many microscopic changes in the primary cells adhered with UPEC132 could be detected, such as rounding or irregularity in shape, unevenness in staining and the cytoplasmic and nuclear changes. It suggests that human primary epithelial cells of renal pelvis can be used for the experiment on UPEC adhesion, thus providing a basis for the further study on the pathogenesis of UPEC.

Effects of nitrogen specification and culture method on growth of Enteromorpha prolifera

Eutrophication, which is the enrichment of a water mass with inorganic and organic nutrients that support plant growth, is a key factor in stimulating phytoplankton growth. In this study, we determined the effects of various nitrogen sources, different nitrogen concentrations in the culture medium, and two culture methods on the growth of the green alga, Enteromorpha prolifera. The relationship between the specific growth rate of E. prolifera and NO3-N concentration was consistent with that estimated using the Monod equation （R2=0.9713, P〈0.01）. In the N O3-N medium, the maximum specific growth rate was calculated to be 0.1634/d and the semi-saturation constant was calculated to be 16.86 μmol/L. Our results show that E. prolijkra can effectively utilize NH4^＋-N, NO3^-N, and NO^2-N and urea-N in the range of 5 to 50 μmol/L. NH4^＋-N was preferentially assimilated by E. prolifera, and urea-N was favorable for long-term growth.

Lymphocytic colitis: A clue to bacterial etiology

AIM： To find out the role of bacteria as a possible etiological factor in lymphocytic colitis. METHODS： Twenty patients with histopathological diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis and 10 normal controls were included in this study. Colonoscopic biopsies were obtained from three sites （hepatic and splenic flexures and rectosigmoid region）. Each biopsy was divided into two parts. A fresh part was incubated on special cultures for bacterial growth. The other part was used for the preparation of histologic tissue sections that were examined for the presence of bacteria with the help of Giemsa stain. RESULTS： Culture of tissue biopsies revealed bacterial growth in 18 out of 20 patients with lymphocytic colitis mostly Escherichia coil （14/18）, which was found in all rectosigmoid specimens （14/14）, but only in 8/14 and 6/14 of splenic and hepatic flexure specimens respectively. In two of these cases, E coli was associated with proteus. Proteus was found only in one case, Klebsiella in two cases, and Staphylococcus aureus in one case. In the control group, only 2 out of 10 controls showed the growth of E coli in their biopsy cultures. Histopathology showed rod-shaped bacilli in the tissue sections of 12 out of 14 cases with positive E coli in their specimen＇s culture. None of the controls showed these bacteria in histopathological sections. CONCLUSION： This preliminary study reports an association between E coli and lymphocytic colitis, based on histological and culture observations. Serotyping and molecular studies are in process to assess the role of E coli in the pathogenesis of lymphocytic colitis.

Analysis on Composition and Antioxidative Properties of Phlorotannins Isolated from Japanese Eisenia and Ecklonia Species

The composition and antioxidative properties of crude phlorotannins isolated from Japanese Eisenia and Ecklonia species including cultured E. kurome were analyzed. As a result of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis, it was suggested that the phlorotannins were composed of compounds containing 3 - 7 phloroglucinol units for Eisenia species and 3 - 8 phloroglucinol units for Ecklonia species. The antioxidant properties of phlorotannins were evaluated using the hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H-ORAC) assay, the measurements of superoxide anion radical scavenging activity (SOSA) with electron spin resonance method, and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay. It was clarified that the phlorotannins contained H-ORAC values of 8.9 × 103 - 1.0 × 104 μmol-Trolox equivalents (TE)/g, SOSA of 1.5 × 104 - 2.9 × 104 superoxide dismutase units/g, DPPH radical scavenging activity of 4.7 × 103 - 5.5 × 103 μmol-TE/g, and reducing power of 6.5 × 102 - 7.0 × 102 mg-ascorbic acid equivalents/g, and had excellent antioxidative properties.

Pingyangmycin-regulated Expressions of Adhesion Molecules in Human Venous Malformation Endothelial Cells

Pingyangmycin (bleomycin A5 hydrochloride,PYM) is one of the anti-neoplastic agents which have been commonly used to treat venous malformations.However,the underlying mechanism by which PYM treats venous malformations remains poorly understood.It was reported that venous endothelial cells could recruit neutrophils via adhesion molecules (E-selectin,ICAM-1,ICAM-3,VCAM-1) during the acute/chronic inflammation and subsequent histological fibrosis after sclerotherapy with PYM.This study explored if the expression of E-selectin,ICAM-1,ICAM-3 and VCAM-1 in human venous malformation endothelial cells could be affected by PYM.HVMECs were cultured from human venous malformation tissue.Expressions of E-selectin,ICAM-1,ICAM-3 and VCAM-1 on HVMECs in response to PYM were analyzed by cell ELISA.The relative levels of mRNA expression in the cells were semi-quantified.The results showed that PYM up-regulated the expressions of E-selectin,ICAM-3,VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in both time-and concentration-dependent manner.Our findings suggested that PYM could induce the expression of adhesion molecules in HVMECs,which might be a possible mechanism by which sclerotherapy by intralesional injection of PYM treats venous malformations.

Tangents on TV： The Tangential Relationship of Narrative and Educational Content in Children＇s Television Through the Capacity Model

Previous studies have shown that children learn from educational television; however, these studies have not explored how closely the educational content of the program is integrated to the narrative. The following study uses a systematic content analysis of 100 top-rated U.S. children＇s television programs to explore the tangential relationship （i.e., distance） of narrative and educational content through the lens of the capacity model--which is built upon three basic components： narrative content, educational content, and the distance between them. Programs were analyzed for distance by examining lesson clarity and integration, show type, target audience age, and station type. One-way ANOVAs indicates significant differences between the means of these variables. Programs targeting younger children presented educational content that was closely integrated into the plotline of the program and helped further the story. However, as the target audience aged, the educational content became more tangential to the narrative content and was less tied to the plotline of the program.