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The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of a computer-assisted concept mapping learning strategy on EFL college learners' English reading comprehension. The research questions were: (1) what was the influence of the computer-assisted concept mapping learning strategy on different learners' English reading comprehension? (2) did the computer-assisted concept mapping learning strategy affect learners' use of other English reading strategies? One hundred ninety-four freshmen who were enrolled in the English course were divided into low-level and high-level groups according to their English proficiency. A computer-assisted concept mapping learning strategy was introduced to the learners in the experimental class to improve their reading ability. Through two-way ANOVA analysis, it was found that the computer-assisted concept mapping learning strategy had greater reading benefit for the low-level group than for the high-level group. In addition, the results of independent sample t-test analysis indicated that the computer-assisted concept mapping learning strategy enhanced learners' use of other English reading strategies--listing, enforcing, and reviewing. (Contains 2 figures and 6 tables.)

The authors examine the results of introducing electronic portfolios in teaching and assessing English as a Foreign Language in Taiwan. The research participants were 37 eighth-grade Taiwanese students from one class at a public junior high school in a middle-range socioeconomic community of Taichung, Taiwan. Results show an overwhelmingly positive reaction of the students except for two students who felt intimidated by writing and speaking in English. The authors offer suggestions and recommendations on building electronic portfolios to EFL students, school authorities, and future researchers. (Contains 2 figures.)

Metastasis, the movement of cancer cells from one site to another, is responsible for the highest number of cancer deaths, especially in lung cancer patients. In this study, we first identified a prognostic marker of lung adenocarcinoma, TCP-1 β subunit (chaperonin-containing TCP-1β; CCT-β). We showed a compound that disrupted the interaction of CCT-β with β-tubulin killed a highly metastatic non-small cell lung cancer cell line CL1-5 through inducing Endoplasmic reticulum stress and caspases activation. Moreover, at the dosage of EC20, the compound inhibited migration and invasion of the lung cancer cells by suppressing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9 and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins through downregulating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), Akt/β-catenin and integrin–focal adhesion kinase signaling pathways. Unlike the anticancer drugs, such as Taxol, that target the adenosine triphosphate site of β-tubulin, this study reveals a therapeutic target, β-tubulin/CCT-β complex, for metastatic human lung adenocarcinoma. The study demonstrated CCT-β as a prognostic marker. Targeting β-tubulin/CCT-β complex caused apoptosis and inhibited invasion/migration of CCT-β overexpressed, highly metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]