Inclusion has been increasingly recognised as a global common goal in education. In China, inclusive education for children with special educational needs and disabilities is currently practised as ...‘Learning in Regular Classrooms’ (LRC). However, not only has the inclusion policy frequently been criticised as failing to provide clear, systematic, or consistent strategies, but also the actual practices of LRC have also been found to merely concern children’s physical integration into the mainstream settings. This discussion paper explores key structural barriers to inclusive education through reviewing policies within the wider education ecosystem that are relevant to the theme of inclusion but outside the LRC policy itself. The analysis illustrates how the complex and interlocked structural barriers embedded within the wider context of current education policies pose persisting constraints for inclusion to progress in China, and how these structural barriers unique to the Chinese education system also reflect the common ‘wicked problems’ for practising inclusive education globally. The paper discusses five main education structures: neo-liberal education policies, national college entrance examination system, teacher evaluation system, staffing quota system and the ‘combine medicine and education’ policy. The conclusion illustrates the complexity and main issues facing future inclusion policy reforms and highlights key objectives for policy change. It indicates that, for inclusion reforms to be effective, broader changes are needed within the wider education ecosystem.
Plastome (plastid genome) sequences provide valuable information for understanding the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of plants. Although the rapid development of high-throughput ...sequencing technology has led to an explosion of plastome sequences, annotation remains a significant bottleneck for plastomes. User-friendly batch annotation of multiple plastomes is an urgent need.
We introduce Plastid Genome Annotator (PGA), a standalone command line tool that can perform rapid, accurate, and flexible batch annotation of newly generated target plastomes based on well-annotated reference plastomes. In contrast to current existing tools, PGA uses reference plastomes as the query and unannotated target plastomes as the subject to locate genes, which we refer to as the reverse query-subject BLAST search approach. PGA accurately identifies gene and intron boundaries as well as intron loss. The program outputs GenBank-formatted files as well as a log file to assist users in verifying annotations. Comparisons against other available plastome annotation tools demonstrated the high annotation accuracy of PGA, with little or no post-annotation verification necessary. Likewise, we demonstrated the flexibility of reference plastomes within PGA by annotating the plastome of
using that of
as a reference. The program, user manual and example data sets are freely available at https://github.com/quxiaojian/PGA.
PGA facilitates rapid, accurate, and flexible batch annotation of plastomes across plants. For projects in which multiple plastomes are generated, the time savings for high-quality plastome annotation are especially significant.
Green synthesis of bioderived high‐molecular‐weight poly(ethylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) (PEF) over metal‐free catalysts is a significant challenge. This study focuses on PEF prepared from ethylene ...glycol and 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) through a direct esterification method with ecofriendly metal‐free ionic liquids (ILs) as catalysts. The catalytic activities of a series of imidazolium cations in the presence of various anions are systematically investigated and found to be mainly governed by the anions. Among the ILs studied, 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C2MIMBF4) is identified as the best catalyst, showing excellent catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability, even at low catalyst loadings (0.1 mol % w.r.t. FDCA). Optimization of the polymerization parameters enables C2MIMBF4‐catalyzed production of PEF with a high number‐average molecular weight (Mn=5.25×104 g mol−1). The relationship between Brønsted acidity and catalytic activity is also investigated and the results show that the trend in catalytic activity is in good agreement with that in Brønsted acidity, as determined by the Hammett method. Additionally, on the basis of experimental results and density functional theory calculations, an electrophilic activation mechanism induced by hydrogen bonds is proposed. This strategy of adjustable acidity and anion structure in ILs provides an opportunity to develop other ILs for bio‐based polyesters through green synthesis pathways.
Low loading: With a small catalyst loading of metal‐free and selective ionic liquids (0.1 % based on 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid), bioderived poly(ethylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) is efficiently prepared with high molecular weight by the electrophilic activation induced by hydrogen bonds, which are formed between the ionic liquid C2MIM+ and the carbonyl oxygen.
Plants transport fixed carbon predominantly as sucrose, which is produced in mesophyll cells and imported into phloem cells for translocation throughout the plant. It is not known how sucrose ...migrates from sites of synthesis in the mesophyll to the phloem, or which cells mediate efflux into the apoplasm as a prerequisite for phloem loading by the SUT sucrose-H⁺ (proton) cotransporters. Using optical sucrose sensors, we identified a subfamily of SWEET sucrose efflux transporters. AtSWEET11 and 12 localize to the plasma membrane of the phloem. Mutant plants carrying insertions in AtSWEET11 and 12 are defective in phloem loading, thus revealing a two-step mechanism of SWEET-mediated export from parenchyma cells feeding H⁺-coupled import into the sieve element-companion cell complex. We discuss how restriction of intercellular transport to the interface of adjacent phloem cells may be an effective mechanism to limit the availability of photosynthetic carbon in the leaf apoplasm in order to prevent pathogen infections.
Developing plant embryos depend on nutrition from maternal tissues via the seed coat and endosperm, but the mechanisms that supply nutrients to plant embryos have remained elusive. Sucrose, the major ...transport form of carbohydrate in plants, is delivered via the phloem to the maternal seed coat and then secreted from the seed coat to feed the embryo. Here, we show that seed filling in Arabidopsis thaliana requires the three sucrose transporters SWEET11, 12, and 15. SWEET11, 12, and 15 exhibit specific spatiotemporal expression patterns in developing seeds, but only a sweet11;12;15 triple mutant showed severe seed defects, which include retarded embryo development, reduced seed weight, and reduced starch and lipid content, causing a “wrinkled” seed phenotype. In sweet11;12;15 triple mutants, starch accumulated in the seed coat but not the embryo, implicating SWEET-mediated sucrose efflux in the transfer of sugars from seed coat to embryo. This cascade of sequentially expressed SWEETs provides the feeding pathway for the plant embryo, an important feature for yield potential.
In this paper, we discuss the resolution of max-M compositional and min-M compositional fuzzy relation equations over complete lattices, where M is a left-increasing or right-increasing binary ...operation. The solvability, the existence of the least and the greatest solutions, and the unique solvability of these fuzzy relation equations are characterized.
•SWEETs are small transporters for sugars undergoing multiple conformational states during transport cycle.•SWEET9 mediates nectar secretion.•A SWEET–SUT pair mediates phloem loading.•Select SWEETs ...play key roles in post-phloem unloading.•SWEETs are key susceptibility gene for rice and cassava blight.
Three families of transporters have been identified as key players in intercellular transport of sugars: MSTs (monosaccharide transporters), SUTs (sucrose transporters) and SWEETs (hexose and sucrose transporters). MSTs and SUTs fall into the major facilitator superfamily; SWEETs constitute a structurally different class of transporters with only seven transmembrane spanning domains. The predicted topology of SWEETs is supported by crystal structures of bacterial homologs (SemiSWEETs). On average, angiosperm genomes contain ∼20 paralogs, most of which serve distinct physiological roles. In Arabidopsis, AtSWEET8 and 13 feed the pollen; SWEET11 and 12 provide sucrose to the SUTs for phloem loading; AtSWEET11, 12 and 15 have distinct roles in seed filling; AtSWEET16 and 17 are vacuolar hexose transporters; and SWEET9 is essential for nectar secretion. The remaining family members await characterization, and could play roles in the gametophyte as well as other important roles in sugar transport in the plant. In rice and cassava, and possibly other systems, sucrose transporting SWEETs play central roles in pathogen resistance. Notably, the human genome also contains a glucose transporting isoform. Further analysis promises new insights into mechanism and regulation of assimilate allocation and a new potential for increasing crop yield.
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxin, mainly derived from microbial mercury methylation in natural aquatic environments, and poses threats to human health. Polar regions and paddy soils are potential ...hotspots of mercury methylation and represent environmental settings that are susceptible to natural and anthropogenic perturbations. The effects of changing environmental conditions on the methylating microorganisms and mercury speciation due to global climate change and farming practices aimed for sustainable agriculture were discussed for polar regions and paddy soils, respectively. To better understand and predict microbial mercury methylation in the changing environment, we synthesized current understanding of how to effectively identify active mercury methylators and assess the bioavailability of different mercury species for methylation. The application of biomarkers based on the hgcAB genes have demonstrated the occurrence of potential mercury methylators, such as sulfate-reducing bacteria, iron-reducing bacteria, methanogen and syntrophs, in a diverse variety of microbial habitats. Advanced techniques, such as enriched stable isotope tracers, whole-cell biosensor and diffusive gradient thin film (DGT) have shown great promises in quantitatively assessing mercury availability to microbial methylators. Improved understanding of the complex structure of microbial communities consisting mercury methylators and non-methylators, chemical speciation of inorganic mercury under geochemically relevant conditions, and the pathway of cellular mercury uptake will undoubtedly facilitate accurate assessment and prediction of in situ microbial mercury methylation.
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•Changing natural condition and human activity strongly affect mercury methylation.•Microorganisms possessing hgcAB genes are present in diverse habitats.•Mercury isotopes, whole-cell biosensor and DGT can assess mercury bioavailability.
A method for the preparation of chiral triarylmethanes via organocatalytic 1,6‐addition of arylboronic acids to para‐quinone methides (p‐QMs) was established. Here the use of salicylaldehyde‐derived ...p‐QMs with an ortho‐hydroxy substituent as a directing group was essential for the remote stereocontrol. In the presence of a BINOL catalyst, chiral triarylmethanes can be obtained in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). This method shows broad substrate tolerance and can be easily scaled up, both electron‐rich and electron‐deficient arylboronic acids are suitable substrates for this addition reaction.
Aims
Acyl‐CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4) is closely related to tumor genesis and development in certain tissues. However, the function of ACSL4 in early brain injury (EBI) caused ...by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns and role of ACSL4 in SAH and post‐SAH EBI using a rat model of SAH.
Methods
The rat model of SAH was induced by autologous blood injection into the prechiasmatic cistern of rats. We also used two specific inhibitors of ferroptosis (Ferrostatin‐1 and Liproxstatin‐1) to investigate the role of ferroptosis in EBI.
Results
We found that ACSL4 levels in brain tissue increased significantly in post‐SAH EBI. Inhibiting the expression of ACSL4 using small interfering RNAs alleviated inflammation, blood‐brain barrier (BBB) impairment, oxidative stress, brain edema, and behavioral and cognitive deficits, and increased the number of surviving neurons, after SAH. Similar effects were obtained by suppressing ferroptosis.
Conclusions
ACSL4 exacerbated SAH‐induced EBI by mediating ferroptosis. These findings may provide a theoretical basis for potential therapy aimed at alleviating post‐SAH EBI.
ACSL4 levels in brain tissue of rats increase significantly in EBI and brain damage after SAH could be reduced by down‐regulation of ACSL4. ACSL4 could trigger ferroptosis and aggravate brain damage via catalyzing lipid metabolism. It may provide a theoretical basis for potential therapy to alleviate EBI after SAH
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