Foreign Language Listening Anxiety Factors Affecting Listening Performance of Chinese EFL Learners

Shu-Yan Wang,차경환 아시아테플 2019 The Journal of Asia TEFL Vol.16 No.1

Foreign language listening anxiety (FLLA), which consists of various factors influencing listening performance, has been extensively investigated in English as a foreign language (EFL) contexts. However, little attention has been given to the effects of FLLA factors in different listening proficiency levels. This paper investigated 78 English majors from a Chinese university to examine the differences between and the effects of FLLA factors on listening performance in low (n = 20) and high-proficient (n = 19) EFL listeners. The participants were required to complete a 25-item FLLA questionnaire and take a listening test. The Mann-Whitney U test revealed that the two groups were significantly different in their self-belief in listening proficiency. Sequential multiple regression analyses showed that the listening-anxiety factor was a negative predictor, and the (lack of) self-belief factor was a positive predictor, for less proficient listeners. However, the three factors (including the decoding-skills factor) had no explanatory power in the high-proficient group’s listening performance. Additionally, dissatisfaction with one’s current listening proficiency may facilitate the less proficient listeners’ performance but has a considerably detrimental impact on higher proficient listeners. Finally, pedagogical implications of FL listening anxiety and research suggestions are included.

Task Complexity andMedia of L2 Reading Affecting Chinese Intermediate EFL Learners

( Shu-yan Wang ) 한국멀티미디어언어교육학회 2018 Multimedia Assisted Language Learning Vol.21 No.4

Task-based language teaching has received tremendous attention in the field of teaching a second language (L2), but task complexity in L2 reading has been under-researched. Furthermore, studies on paper- and screen-based reading were seldom discussed in L2 contexts. The participants in this study were 82 intermediate EFL learners enrolled in a Chinese university. A two-way ANOVA research design was used to examine the effects of task complexity and media of L2 reading regarding fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary learning. Paired-sample t-tests were employed to examine readers’ vocabulary retention within one month. The results found a significant interaction effect between task complexity and media in reading fluency: the Paper-Complex-Group navigated the text slower than the Paper-Simple-Group, whereas the Screen-Complex-Group read faster than the Screen-Simple-Group. Increased task complexity had limited effects on reading comprehension in either media condition. Additionally, the complex reading task maintained or even elicited more vocabulary retention within two weeks, but the facilitating effect disappeared two weeks later. Based on these findings, reading tasks requiring more language-related output are recommended for further research. Pedagogically, paper-reading with risk-free tasks and screen-reading with cognitively demanding tasks can be employed to promote fluent L2 reading.

Prognostic Significance of Interactions Between ER Alpha and ER Beta and Lymph Node Status in Breast Cancer Cases

Han, Shu-Jing,Guo, Qing-Qing,Wang, Ting,Wang, You-Xin,Zhang, Yu-Xiang,Liu, Fen,Luo, Yan-Xia,Zhang, Jie,Wang, You-Li,Yan, Yu-Xiang,Peng, Xiao-Xia,Ling, Rui,He, Yan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Objective: Both estrogen receptors, ER alpha ($ER{\alpha}$) and ER beta ($ER{\beta}$), are expressed in 50-70% of breast cancer cases. The role of $ER{\alpha}$ as a prognostic marker in breast cancer has been well established as its expression is negative correlated with tumor size and lymph node metastasis. $ER{\beta}$ is also a favorable prognostic predictor although this is less well documented than for $ER{\alpha}$. Materials and Methods: To explore whether ERs independently or together might influence clinical outcome in breast cancer, the correlation between the ERs with the clinicopathological features was analyzed in 84 patients. Results: $ER{\alpha}$ expression negatively correlated with tumor stage (r=-0.246, p=0.028) and tended to be negatively correlated with lymph node status (r=-0.156, p=0.168) and tumor size (r=-0.246, p=0.099). Also, $ER{\beta}$ was negatively correlated with nodal status (r=-0.243, p=0.028), as was coexpression of $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$ (p=0.043, OR=0.194, 95% CI= 0.040-0.953). Conclusion: Coexpression of ERs might serve as an indicator of good prognosis in breast cancer patients.

Antiproliferative activities of Garcinia bracteata extract and its active ingredient, isobractatin, against human tumor cell lines

Shen, Tao,Li, Wei,Wang, Yan-Yan,Zhong, Qing-Qing,Wang, Shu-Qi,Wang, Xiao-Ning,Ren, Dong-Mei,Lou, Hong-Xiang 대한약학회 2014 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.37 No.3

In our cell based screening of antitumor ingredients from plants, the EtOH extract of Garcinia bracteata displayed antiproliferative effect against human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, and human prostate cancer PC3 cells. Phytochemical investigation of this active extract produced nine ingredients, and their structures were established by analysis of MS and NMR spectra. Antiproliferative evaluation of isolated ingredients on A549, MCF-7 and PC3 cells indicated that a xanthone named isobractatin (1) exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against the above three human cancer cell lines with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 2.90 to $4.15{\mu}M$. Treatment of PC3 cells with 1 led to an enhancement of the cell apoptosis, and arrested cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. The G0/G1 phase cycle-related proteins analysis showed that the expressions of cyclins D1 and E were reduced by 1, whereas the protein level of cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor P21 was induced. Additionally, 1 enhanced PC3 cell apoptosis by activations of Bax, caspases 3 and 9, and by inhibition of Bcl-2. Our combined data illustrated that isobractatin (1) was the antiproliferative ingredient of G. bracteata against three human cancer cell lines, which exerted its antiproliferatrive effect via cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis.

Antiproliferative activities of Garcinia bracteata extract and its active ingredient, isobractatin, against human tumor cell lines

Tao Shen,Wei Li,Yan-Yan Wang,Qing-Qing Zhong,Shu-Qi Wang,Xiao-Ning Wang,Dong-Mei Ren,Hongxiang Lou 대한약학회 2014 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.37 No.3

In our cell based screening of antitumoringredients from plants, the EtOH extract of Garciniabracteata displayed antiproliferative effect against humanlung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, human breast cancerMCF-7 cells, and human prostate cancer PC3 cells. Phytochemicalinvestigation of this active extract producednine ingredients, and their structures were established byanalysis of MS and NMR spectra. Antiproliferative evaluationof isolated ingredients on A549, MCF-7 and PC3cells indicated that a xanthone named isobractatin (1)exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against the abovethree human cancer cell lines with IC50 values rangingfrom 2.90 to 4.15 lM. Treatment of PC3 cells with 1 led toan enhancement of the cell apoptosis, and arrested cellcycle in the G0/G1 phase. The G0/G1 phase cycle-relatedproteins analysis showed that the expressions of cyclins D1and E were reduced by 1, whereas the protein level of cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor P21 was induced. Additionally, 1 enhanced PC3 cell apoptosis by activationsof Bax, caspases 3 and 9, and by inhibition of Bcl-2. Ourcombined data illustrated that isobractatin (1) was theantiproliferative ingredient of G. bracteata against threehuman cancer cell lines, which exerted its antiproliferatriveeffect via cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis.

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone Induces Retinoic Acid Receptor β Hypermethylation through DNA Methyltransferase 1 Accumulation in Esophageal Squamous Epithelial Cells

Wang, Jing,Zhao, Shu-Lei,Li, Yan,Meng, Mei,Qin, Cheng-Yong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Overexpression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) has been detected in many cancers. Tobacco exposure is known to induce genetic and epigenetic changes in the pathogenesis of malignancy. 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is an important carcinogen present in tobacco smoke; however the detailed molecular mechanism of how NNK induces esophageal carcinogenesis is still unclear. We found that DNMT1 was overexpressed in ESCC tissues compared with paired non-cancerous tissues, the overexpression being correlated with smoking status and low expression of $RAR{\beta}$. The latter could be upregulated by NNK treatment in Het-1A cells, and the increased DNMT1 expression level reflected promoter hypermethylation and downregulation of retinoic acid receptor ${\beta}$($RAR{\beta}$). RNA interference mediated knockdown of DNMT1 resulted in promoter demethylation and upregulation of $RAR{\beta}$ in KYSE30 and TE-1 cells. 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-thiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that NNK treatment in Het-1A cells could enhance cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, DNMT1 overexpression is correlated with smoking status and low expression of $RAR{\beta}$ in esophageal SCC patients. NNK could induce $RAR{\beta}$ promoter hypermethylation through upregulation of DNMT1 in esophageal squamous epithelial cells, finally leading to enhancement of cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis.

Fusion Expression and Immunogenicity of EHEC EspA-Stx2A1 Protein: Implications for the Vaccine Development

Yan Cheng,Youjun Feng,Ping Luo,Jiang Gu,Shu Yu,Wei-jun Zhang,Yan-qing Liu,Qing-xu Wang,Quan-ming Zou,Xu-hu Mao 한국미생물학회 2009 The journal of microbiology Vol.47 No.4

Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) is a major virulence factor for enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), which is encoded by λ lysogenic phage integrated into EHEC chromosome. Stx2A1, A1 subunit of Stx2 toxin has gathered extensive concerns due to its potential of being developed into a vaccine candidate. However, the substantial progress is hampered in part for the lack of a suitable in vitro expression system. Here we report use of the prokaryotic system pET-28a::espA-Stx2A1/BL21 to carry out the fusion expression of Stx2A1 which is linked to E. coli secreted protein A (EspA) at its N-terminus. Under the IPTG induction, EspA- Stx2A1 fusion protein in the form of inclusion body was obtained successfully, whose expression level can reach about 40% of total bacterial protein at 25°C, much higher than that at 37°C. Western blot test suggested the refolded fusion protein is of excellent immuno-reactivity with both monoclonal antibodies, which are specific to EspA and Stx2A1, respectively. Anti-sera from Balb/c mice immunized with the EspA-Stx2A1 fusion protein were found to exhibit strong neutralization activity and protection capability in vitro and in vivo. These data have provided a novel feasible method to produce Stx2A1 in large scale in vitro, which is implicated for the development of multivalent subunit vaccines candidate against EHEC O157:H7 infections.

Identification of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of H-FABP Gene and Its Association with Fatness Traits in Chickens

Wang, Yan,Shu, Dingming,Li, Liang,Qu, Hao,Yang, Chunfen,Zhu, Qing Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.12

Heart fatty acid-binding protein gene (H-FABP) is an important candidate gene for meat quality. One of the objectives of this study was to screen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of chicken H-FABP gene among 252 individuals that included 4 Chinese domestic chicken breeds (Fengkai Xinghua (T04), Huiyang Huxu (H), Qingyuan Ma (Q), Guangxi Xiayan (S1)), 2 breeds developed by the Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Lingnan Huang (DC), dwarf chicken (E4)) and one introduced broiler (Abor Acre (AA)). Another objective of this study was to analyze the associations between polymorphisms of the H-FABP gene and fat deposition traits in chickens. PCR-SSCP was used to analyze SNPs in H-FABP and 4 SNPs (T260C, G675A, C783T and G2778A) were detected. Associations between polymorphic loci and intramuscular fat (IMF), abdominal fat weight (AFW) and abdominal fat percentage (AFP) were analyzed by ANCOVA method. The results showed that the T260C genotypes were significantly associated with IMF (p = 0.0233) and AFP (p = 0.0001); the G675A genotypes were significantly associated with AFW, AFP (p<0.01) and IMF (p<0.05); at the C783T locus, AFW and AFP differed highly between genotypes. However, the G2778A loci did not show any significant effect on fat deposition traits in this study. In addition, we found that there were some differences between AFP and definite haplotypes through a nonparametric statistical method, so the haplotypes based on the SNPs except G2778A loci were also significantly associated with IMF, AFW (g) (p<0.05) and AFP (%) (p<0.001). Significantly and suggestively dominant effects of H4H4 haplotype were observed for IMF and the H2H3 was dominant for AFW (g) and AFP (%). The results also revealed that H5H7 haplotype had a negative effect on IMF, while the H5H6 had a positive effect on AFW (g) and AFP (%).

Effects of different diets on the growth and development of young silkworms

Wang Yuanfei,Shu Qilong,Gu Haoyi,Feng Piao,Dai Minli,Zhu Qingyu,Liu Wei,Dai Yan,Li Fanchi,Li Bing 한국응용곤충학회 2023 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.26 No.4

To investigate the impact of different diets on the growth and development of the silkworm Bombyx mori (L.; Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), we conducted an analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between larvae fed an artificial diet (referred to as the AD group) and those fed mulberry leaves (referred to as the ML group) during the first, second, and third instars using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology. Our results revealed that the DEGs primarily belonged to pathways associated with lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, the endocrine system, the nervous system, the digestive system, the immune system, and oxida tion–reduction processes. Notably, in the AD group, there was a decrease in transcript levels of genes related to amino acid metabolism synthases, while the transcript levels of antimicrobial peptide genes were up-regulated. Furthermore, genes associated with cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes exhibited down-regulation in the AD group. These observed changes likely contributed to the delayed growth and compromised robustness observed in the AD group. Overall, these findings provided valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the differ ences in growth, development, disease resistance, and adversity resistance between silkworms fed an artificial diet and those fed mulberry leaves.

A Wirelessly Powered Expanding-Extending Robotic Capsule Endoscope for Human Intestine

Shu He,Guo-Zheng Yan,Quan Ke,Zhi-Wu Wang,Wen-Wen Chen 한국정밀공학회 2015 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

Instruments for GI diagnostics are increasingly moving toward robotic capsule endoscopes because of their locomotion capabilities. This paper presents a wirelessly powered robotic capsule endoscope that can actively move in the small bowel exploiting the expanding–extending principle. After analyzing the demands of the locomotion, a novel radial motion mechanism with a large expanding/retracting radial ratio was designed, as was an axial motion mechanism with a compact structure. A control system with a special position detector to let the micro-motors avoiding stall state was developed to enhance the stability of the mechanism and reduce the robot’s power requirements. The wireless power system enabled the robot to inspect the full length of the intestinal tract. The assembled micro-robot was 14 mm in diameter and 45 mm in length. The maximum anchoring diameter was 32 mm, and the axial telescopic length was 9.5 mm. The test results proved the feasibility of the robot.