To approach or to avoid: The quadripolar model of achievement motivation revisited in a Confucian-heritage context.

Academic challenges and failure are inevitable in pursuit of higher education. According to the self-worth theory, trying hard but failing implies low ability that would be a threat to personal worth, thus preventing students from approaching academic challenges. Nevertheless, previous studies have shown that students in the Confucian-heritage contexts (CHCs) tend to persist rather than quit in the face of academic failure.

Primary School Teachers' Conceptions of Reading Comprehension Processes and Its Formulation.

Understanding reading comprehension processes is vital for teachers to effectively conduct teaching and assessment of reading in schools. Hong Kong students' outstanding reading performance internationally is commonly attributed to the implementation of reading comprehension models in its Chinese language curriculum, however, the understanding of teachers' conceptions of reading comprehension is still very limited. This phenomenographic study interviewed 28 in-service Chinese language teachers from eight Hong Kong primary schools and illustrated the elicited conceptions of a model of reading comprehension processes (i.

Is a Key Regulator of Defense Responses to the Devastating Plant Pathogen in Oilseed Rape.

The disease caused by has traditionally been difficult to control, resulting in tremendous economic losses in oilseed rape (). Identification of important genes in the defense responses is critical for molecular breeding, an important strategy for controlling the disease. Here, we report that a mitogen-activated protein kinase gene, , plays an important role in the defense against in oilseed rape.

Synthesis, DNA interaction and anticancer activity of copper(II) complexes with 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine derivatives.

Three novel copper(II) complexes CuL(1)Cl2 (1) (L(1)=4'-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2,2':6'- 2″-terpyridine), CuL(2)Cl2 (2) (L(2)=4'-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,2':6'-2″-terpyridine) and CuL(3)Cl2 (3) (L(3)=4'-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,2':6'-2″-terpyridine) have been synthesized and characterized. Absorption spectral titration experiments, ethidium bromide displacement assays, and cyclic voltammetric experiments were carried out and the results suggested that these complexes bound to DNA through an intercalative mode. Moreover, these complexes were found to cleave pBR322 DNA efficiently in the presence of glutathione (GSH), and exhibited good anticancer activity against HeLa, Hep-G2 and BEL-7402 cell lines.

Colorimetric and luminescent dual-signaling responsive probing of thiols by a ruthenium(II)-azo complex.

A dinuclear ruthenium(II) complex linked via a reducible azo group [Ru(bpy)2(azobpy)Ru(bpy)2]Cl4 (Ru2azo, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, azobpy=4,4″-azobis (2,2'-bipyridine)) was adopted as a probe for thiols. Results showed that Ru2azo could selectively and effectively react with biological thiols (such as cysteine, homocysteine and glutathione) with a 10(-7)M detection limit. After it reacted with thiols, the original gray color of Ru2azo solution immediately turned yellow and the luminescence significantly enhanced, showing "naked-eye" colorimetric and "off-on" luminescent dual-signaling response for thiols.

Synthesis, crystal structure, DNA interaction and anticancer activity of tridentate copper(II) complexes.

Three new tridentate copper(II) complexes [Cu(dthp)Cl(2)] (1) (dthp=2,6-di(thiazol-2-yl)pyridine), [Cu(dmtp)Cl(2)] (2) (dmtp=2,6-di(5-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)pyridine) and [Cu(dtp)Cl(2)] (3) (dtp=2,6-di(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)pyridine) have been synthesized and characterized. Crystal structure of complex 1 shows that the complex existed as distorted square pyramid with five co-ordination sites occupied by the tridentate ligand and the two chlorine anions. Ethidium bromide displacement assay, viscosity measurements, circular dichroism studies and cyclic voltammetric experiments suggested that these complexes bound to DNA via an intercalative mode.

Saponins with neuroprotective effects from the roots of Pulsatilla cernua.

Four new oleanene-type triterpenoid saponins together with six known saponins were isolated from the roots of Pulsatilla cernua and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data, including 2D NMR spectra and chemical evidence. Among these one of the aglycones (gypsogenin) is reported for the first time from this genus. Some of these compounds showed significant neuroprotective effects against the cytotoxicity induced by β-amyloid(25-35) (Aβ(25-35)) on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Synthesis, DNA-binding and topoisomerase inhibitory activity of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes.

Two ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)(bfipH)](2+) (1) and [Ru(phen)(2)(bfipH)](2+) (2) have been synthesized and characterized. The DNA-binding behaviors of complexes were studied by using spectroscopic and viscosity measurements. Results suggested that the two complexes bind to DNA in an intercalative mode.