GE free: Rejection or incomprehension? The challenge for New Zealand biotechnology education

Abstract

A personal experience of political action against genetic engineering in New Zealand led the writer to reflect on the opportunities provided by science and technology curricula for students to develop critical biotechnological literacy. An analysis of relevant New Zealand science and technology curricula shows that although there are opportunities for genetic engineering issues to be explored, such teaching situations are not commonplace. In this study, the literature reflecting the components of scientific literacy for citizenship are reviewed and a strategy for developing critical biotechnological literacy is suggested.     

2号花园 雕塑漂浮园

这个富有创意的花园采用了简单的理念。＂Sculptillonnage＂是借鉴＂漂浮花园＂（Hortillonnages）而来的,它由植物或动物造型作品构成,向园丁展示生物多样性的空间、修剪草坪的范围和生态循环等,描绘了一种波动的艺术形态。这个花园不仅外形美观,它还能为动物提供庇护场所、食物和水,让花园生活变得方便快捷。     

Properties of Evaporated Si_(1-x)Sn_x and Si_(1_x)Sn_x:H Amorphous Alloys

Amorphous Si_(1-x)Sn_x alloys have been prepared by co-evaporation onto substrates maintained atliquid nitrogen temperature. Their atomic structure is investigated using density measurements,scanning high-energy electron diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The optical and electricalproperties are reported. Then, a method to hydrogenate the films during the evaporation process isdescribed and applied to the preparation of amorphous semiconductors from pure silicon to pure tin.Finally, multilayers of type Si / Si:H / ... or Si:H / Si:D / ... are studied. The modulation of hydrogen isshown by low-angle neutron scattering and measurements of hydrogen diffusivity are presented.     

MIS隧道器件电流-电压特性的数值模拟

本文建立了MLS隧道器件的电流-电压特性的数值模拟程序,提出了一种新的计算方法:龙格-库塔数值积分与边界条件的预估-校正处理相结合的算法.利用建立的程序模拟计算了两种不同氧化层厚度的MIS隧道器件的电流-电压特性.对TiW/Si肖特基二极管,考虑了界面态的静态和动态影响,模拟特性和实验结果相比,令人满意的一致.     

Amplification at 1.3 mu m in a Pr/sup 3+/-doped single-mode fluorozirconate fibre

Gain of 10.5 dB has been achieved at a wavelength of 1.3 mu m, by using a 17 m length of single mode fluorozirconate fibre doped with 560 p.p.m.w. Pr/sup 3+/, and pumped at 1.007 mu m. The gain increased almost linearly with launched pump power, with a slope efficiency of 0.019 dB/mW.<>     

Effects of management practices prior to and during ensiling and concentrate type on nitrogen utilization in dairy cows

Three experiments with a total of 18 multiparous Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in early to mid lactation were used in incomplete changeover designs with four periods consisting of 4 wk each. The objectives of the experiments were to investigate the effects of 1) grass management practices prior to ensiling and 2) concentrate energy sources on animal performance and N utilization and suggest ways in which the annual N excretion can be reduced. In the first experiment, four silages were prepared as early-cut material from grass that was fertilized with either 75 or 150 kg of N/ha. Two other silages were prepared from the latter but harvested 2 wk later. Within each silage type, both direct cut and wilted silages were produced. In the second experiment, starch-based and fiber-based concentrates were offered with the three wilted silages used in the previous experiment. In the third experiment, barley-based and corn-based concentrates were offered with three silages that had been treated with different additives at the time of ensiling. Neither dry matter intake nor milk yield were significantly affected by either silage or concentrate type. Milk protein content and yield, however, were higher in silages made from medium fertilized grass and also increased with increased starch content of the concentrate. Grass management and diet affected the amount and form of N excreted. Use of nitrogen fertilizer at lower than 75 kg of N/ha and feeding less degradable starch concentrate is recommended for mitigation of N pollution, especially in the form of urine N by dairy cows in intensive farming.     

Acoustical properties of speech as indicators of depression and suicidal risk

Acoustic properties of speech have previously been identified as possible cues to depression, and there is evidence that certain vocal parameters may be used further to objectively discriminate between depressed and suicidal speech. Studies were performed to analyze and compare the speech acoustics of separate male and female samples comprised of normal individuals and individuals carrying diagnoses of depression and high-risk, near-term suicidality. The female sample consisted of ten control subjects, 17 dysthymic patients, and 21 major depressed patients. The male sample contained 24 control subjects, 21 major depressed patients, and 22 high-risk suicidal patients. Acoustic analyses of voice fundamental frequency (Fo), amplitude modulation (AM), formants, and power distribution were performed on speech samples extracted from audio recordings collected from the sample members. Multivariate feature and discriminant analyses were performed on feature vectors representing the members of the control and disordered classes. Features derived from the formant and power spectral density measurements were found to be the best discriminators of class membership in both the male and female studies. AM features emerged as strong class discriminators of the male classes. Features describing Fo were generally ineffective discriminators in both studies. The results support theories that identify psychomotor disturbances as central elements in depression and suicidality.     

Finite element analysis of the motion of a gas-liquid interface in a forous medium

A numerical method is outlined for determining the movement of a gas-liquid interface in a porous medium following the withdrawal of gas from an underground reservoir. The governing equations for the flow of both gas and the underlying liquid are formulated in terms of the finite element process using the Galerkin approach. The method consists of an iterative technique in which solution of the basic equations is dependent on the location of the interface. Cubic isoparametric elements are employed to allow accurate modelling of the curved boundary and to provide a relatively large number of interface points for a small number of elements. Extensions of the method are indicated in the text.