The Afrotropical thermophilic ant genus Ocymyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The taxonomy and biology of the Afrotropical thermophilic ant genus Ocymyrmex is reviewed and updated. A new key to workers for the 37 recognized species is presented and species-groups within the genus are delimited. Revised genus-level diagnoses for all castes are given and a check-list with known distributions of all species is included. Nine new species are described. The previously known biology of the genus is reviewed in the introduction and fresh biological and ecological information on a number of species is given in the introduction and under the individual species headings.     

What’s so special about model organisms?

This paper aims to identify the key characteristics of model organisms that make them a specific type of model within the contemporary life sciences: in particular, we argue that the term “model organism” does not apply to all organisms used for the purposes of experimental research. We explore the differences between experimental and model organisms in terms of their material and epistemic features, and argue that it is essential to distinguish between their representational scope and representational target. We also examine the characteristics of the communities who use these two types of models, including their research goals, disciplinary affiliations, and preferred practices to show how these have contributed to the conceptualization of a model organism. We conclude that model organisms are a specific subgroup of organisms that have been standardized to fit an integrative and comparative mode of research, and that it must be clearly distinguished from the broader class of experimental organisms. In addition, we argue that model organisms are the key components of a unique and distinctively biological way of doing research using models.     

Natural history of the Lined Seedeater Sporophila lineola (Aves: Thraupidae) in southeastern Brazil

The Lined Seedeater (Sporophila lineola) is a migratory species that inhabits a variety of open habitats in South America. We studied the breeding biology and territorial behaviour of a colour-banded population of the species in the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus Florestal (1–19,8808ºS, –44,4136ºW), during two breeding seasons (2014/2015 and 2015/2016), which spans from December to April. We monitored 74 nests of this species. The nest is a low cup supported between a fork. Nests are mainly built with grass stems and rootlets, with spider-web used to hold the material together and to bind the nest to its supporting plant. Females are solely responsible for nest building and incubation, which is synchronic, and also for feeding nestlings to a large extent. Males are responsible for defending the territory, which corresponds to a small portion of the home range restricted to the nest environs, and also feed the nestlings. Mean clutch size is two eggs (78% of nests monitored), with clutches of three (20.3%) and four (1.7%) eggs also observed. Eggs are whitish, covered with dark brown blotches and spots to a variable extent. Mean incubation period, considered as the period between the onset of incubation and hatching of the first egg, is 11 days. Nestling period, considered as the period between hatching of the first egg and fledging of the last young, is 10 days. During the first breeding season, the simple percentage of successful nests was 34.1%, while the Mayfield success was 29.8%, with slightly higher values observed during the second breeding season, with 39.4% and 35.7%, respectively. We recorded, for the first time, three cases of polygamy in the species. We also recorded breeding site fidelity for the first time in the species, with males returning to the same territory owned in a previous breeding season.     

分子生物学教学的探索与实践

分子生物学是生命科学基础课程之一,是生物工程专业重要的专业课之一。根据高等教育改革的基本指导思想,结合浙江科技学院办学特色和生物工程专业的特点,对该课程的教学内容、教学方法、考核方法等方面作了探索,并且通过科研促进教学和外聘客座教授现场讲课等方式,对促进本课程的教学做了初步的尝试。从学生评教和问卷调查情况来看,取得了比较好的效果。     

数学专业师范生素质的调查研究

师范生的教师专业素质培养直接影响着其将来从师的水平,对数学学院的师范生必备教师专业素质,如数学专业和数学教育知识、教学能力与技能、教学技术、教学观念及数学课程改革等方面,进行了的问卷调查,通过对调查数据的统计分析,显示数学学院师范生具备较好的专业基础知识和数学基本能力,而缺少实践知识和实践技能;能使用现代教学手段制作数学课件;对新数学课程改革有一定的认识,但对高中新课程选修模块的掌握情况不容乐观,对师范生的培养及教学改革提出了几点建议。     

《细胞生物学》综合实验教学改革

通过对《细胞生物学》综合实验的教学改革,提高生物科学专业学生的科研创新意识。方法:在生物科学专业增设生物技术综合实验课程,以单克隆抗体实验为中心通过综合性、设计性实验培养学生发现问题、思考问题和解决问题的能力,提高了学生对科研的认识。结果:通过教学改革使学生对科研过程有基本的了解,在标书撰写、实验操作、论文写作方面均有提高。实验教学改革提高了学生的动手能力,能培养具有初步科研能力的生物专业人才。     

动力学在交通事故处理中的应用

公安院校基础教学中公安知识的渗透,有力地驱动学生创造力的培养。在现场勘查中,针对事故现场的实况,可运用动力学的知识,对肇事车辆行驶速度作出科学的鉴定。     

生物学实验教学示范中心实验课程体系与教学模式的研究与实践

介绍了湖北师范学院国家级生物学实验教学示范中心实验课程体系与教学模式,并在现状调查与分析的基础上,阐明了进一步优化实验课程体系和改进教学模式的具体措施。     

柔性化培养与学生个性自主选择的应用性人才培养模式研究

我们认为柔性化培养就是根据培养对象的个性特点，采用弹性、灵活的培养方式，培养具有个性的、不同规格、不同层次的人才。柔性化应用型人才培养应该包括三个方面：一是向纵深发展，不断加强学生应用能力和应用技术的培养，实现人才培养与工作岗位的零距离对接；二是向宽广方向发展，进行跨专业培养，以适应工作岗位的综合化，三是在课程设置上，实行动态化，对市场需求的动态变化能够快速响应。在目前的条件下，柔性化培养与学生个性自主选择的人才培养模式目标，可以通过分阶段、分类别方式和模块化课程超市方式实现。