bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ambulatory monitoring in the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
Authors: Corral-Peñafiel Jaime , Pepin Jean-Louis , Barbe Ferran
Published: August 2013

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disorder associated with complications such as arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and traffic accidents. The resources allocated for OSA are insufficient and OSA is a significant public health problem. Portable recording devices have been developed for the detection of OSA syndrome and have proved capable of providing an equivalent diagnosis to in-laboratory polysomnography (PSG), at least in patients with a high pre-test probability of OSA syndrome. PSG becomes important in patients who have symptoms and certain comorbidities such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or stroke, as well as in patients with a clinical history suggesting a different sleep disorder. Continuous positive airway pressure is the most effective treatment in OSA. Ambulatory monitoring of the therapeutic modalities has been evaluated to enhance the care process and reduce costs compared to the conventional approach, without sacrificing efficiency. This review evaluates the role of portable monitoring devices in the diagnostic process of OSA and the search for alternative strategies based on ambulatory management protocols.
Sleep apnoea and the heart
Authors: Lévy Patrick , Ryan Silke , Oldenburg Olaf , Parati Gianfranco
Published: August 2013

Sleep apnoea is associated with significant daytime functioning impairment and marked cardiovascular morbidities, leading to a significant increase in mortality. Sympathetic activation, oxidative stress and systemic inflammation have been shown to be the main intermediary mechanisms associated with sleep apnoea and intermittent hypoxia. There are now convincing data regarding the association between hypertension, arrhythmias, coronary heart disease, heart failure, increased cardiovascular mortality and sleep apnoea. This has been evidenced in sleep apnoea patients and is supported by experimental data obtained in intermittent hypoxia. Whether treating sleep apnoea enables chronic cardiovascular consequences to be reversed is not fully established as regard coronary heart disease, arrhythmias and heart failure. In this late condition, complex bidirectional relationships occur, with obstructive sleep apnoea being a risk factor for heart failure whilst central sleep apnoea mainly appears as a consequence of heart failure. It remains to be established in adequately designed studies,i.e.large randomised controlled trials, whether treating sleep apnoea can improve heart failure morbidity and mortality.
Treatment of pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Bhatt Jayesh M.
Published: August 2013

Pulmonary exacerbations have very important consequences in cystic fibrosis (CF), both in terms of current morbidity as well as implications for long term morbidity and mortality. Even though there is no universally agreed definition of pulmonary exacerbation, prompt and aggressive treatment with a multidisciplinary approach is recommended. Maintenance treatments reduce the risk of exacerbations. Antibiotics should be targeted against the common CF bacteria and these can be given orally, althoughi.v.antibiotics will be required for ongoing symptoms or severe exacerbations. The evidence base for recommendations regarding the optimal regimens, route and frequency of administration of antibiotics, location, and duration ofi.v.antibiotic treatment will be discussed. Management of comorbidities, like poor nutrition and diabetes, is critical in improving outcomes.
Improvement of long-term outcomes in pancreatic cancer and its associated factors within the gemcitabine era: a collaborative retrospective multicenter clinical review of 1,082 patients
Authors: Kuroda Taira , Kumagi Teru , Yokota Tomoyuki , Seike Hirotaka , Nishiyama Mari , Imai Yusuke , Inada Nobu , Shibata Naozumi , Imamine Satoshi , Okada Shin-ichi , Koizumi Mitsuhito , Yamanishi Hirofumi , Azemoto Nobuaki , Miyaike Jiro , Tanaka Yoshinori , Tatsukawa Haruka , Utsunomiya Hiroki , Ohno Yoshinori , Miyake Teruki , Hirooka Masashi , Furukawa Shinya , Abe Masanori , Ikeda Yoshiou , Matsuura Bunzo , Hiasa Yoichi , Onji Morikazu
Published: August 2013

Background

Although the outcomes of pancreatic cancer have been improved by gemcitabine, the changes in its characteristics and long-term outcomes within the gemcitabine era remain unclear. This study was conducted to identify clinical characteristics of pancreatic cancer patients within the gemcitabine era.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed at 10 centers for 1,248 consecutive patients who were ever considered to have a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer between 2001 and 2010. Data collected included demographics, diagnosis date, clinical stage, treatment, and outcome; 1,082 patients met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed further. The chi-square test, Student’s t-test, and Mann–Whitney U-test were used for statistical analysis. Outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression. Differences in survival analyses were determined using the log-rank test.

Results

The distribution of clinical stages was: I, 2.2%; II, 3.4%; III, 13%; IVa, 27%; and IVb, 55%. Chemotherapy alone was administered to 42% of patients and 17% underwent resection. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 39%, 13%, and 6.9%, respectively. The median survival time was 257 days, but differed considerably among treatments and clinical stages. Demographics, distribution of clinical stage, and cause of death did not differ between groups A (2001–2005, n = 406) and B (2006–2010, n = 676). However, group B included more patients who underwent chemotherapy (P < 0.0001) and fewer treated with best supportive care (P = 0.0004), mirroring improvements in this group’s long-term outcomes (P = 0.0063). Finally, factors associated with long-term outcomes derived from multivariate analysis were clinical stage (P < 0.0001), location of the tumor (P = 0.0294) and treatments (surgery, chemotherapy) (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Long-term outcomes in pancreatic cancer has improved even within the gemcitabine era, suggesting the importance of offering chemotherapy to patients previously only considered for best supportive care. Most patients are still diagnosed at an advanced stage, making clinical strategy development for diagnosing pancreatic cancer at earlier stages essential.
Influence of pre- and post-usage flushing frequencies on bacterial water quality of non-touch water fittings
Authors: Suchomel Miranda , Diab-Elschahawi Magda , Kundi Michael , Assadian Ojan
Published: August 2013

Background

Non-touch fittings have been reported to be susceptible for Pseudomonas aeruginosa accumulation. A number of factors may contribute to this, including the frequency of usage, duration of water stagnation, or presence of plastic materials. Programmable non-touch fittings are appearing which allow regular automated post-flushing with cold water to prevent water stagnation. However, the ideal duration of post-flushing is unknown as well as the effect of pre-rinsing with cold water before use.

Methods

Eight non-touch fittings with brass valve blocks were mounted on a mobile test sink and connected to the same central water pipe source, differing only in presence or absence of water connection pipes, length of connection pipe, frequency of usage, and time intervals for pre- and post-usage water flush. The total bacteria colony-forming unit (cfu) counts were obtained by the spread plate technique.

Results

Low frequency of water use in combination with a long stagnating water column resulted in high bacterial cfu counts. Post-usage flushing for 2 seconds did not differ from no flushing. Flushing for 10 seconds with cold water after use or 30 seconds flush before use were both the most effective measures to prevent non-touch fittings from biofilm formation over a period of 20 weeks.

Conclusion

Further improvements in water fitting technology could possibly solve the problem of bacterial water contamination in health care settings.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory acute respiratory distress syndrome in severe malaria
Authors: Alves Carlos , Chen Jen-Ting , Patel Nina , Abrams Darryl , Figueiredo Paulo , Santos Lurdes , Sarmento António , Paiva José Artur , Bacchetta Matthew , Wilgus May-Lin , Roncon-Albuquerque Roberto , Brodie Daniel
Published: August 2013

Background

Severe malaria may be complicated by the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is associated with a high mortality. In the present report, a series of three cases of imported malaria complicated by refractory severe ARDS supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is presented.

Methods

One female and two male adult patients (ages 39 to 53) were included. Two patients hadPlasmodium falciparuminfection and one patient hadPlasmodium vivaxandPlasmodium ovaleco-infection. Anti-malarial therapy consisted in intravenous quinine (in two patients) and intravenous quinidine (in one patient), plus clindamycin or doxycycline.

Results

Despite lung protective ventilation, a conservative strategy of fluid management, corticosteroids (two patients), prone position (two patients) and inhaled nitric oxide (one patient), refractory severe ARDS supervened (PaO2to FiO2ratio 68) and venovenous ECMO was then initiated. In one patient, a bicaval dual-lumen cannula was inserted; in the two other patients, a two-site configuration was used. Two patients survived to hospital-discharge (duration of ECMO support: 8.5 days) and one patient died from nosocomial sepsis and multi-organ failure after 40 days of ECMO support.

Conclusions

ECMO support allowed adequate oxygenation and correction of hypercapnia under lung protective ventilation, therefore reducing ventilator-induced lung injury. ECMO referral should be considered early in malaria complicated by severe ARDS refractory to conventional treatment.
Obstetric and perinatal outcomes in IVF versus ICSI-conceived pregnancies at a tertiary care center - a pilot study
Authors: Nouri Kazem , Ott Johannes , Stoegbauer Lucia , Pietrowski Detlef , Frantal Sophie , Walch Katharina
Published: August 2013

Background

Although most pregnancies after IVF result in normal healthy outcomes, an increased risk for a number of obstetric and neonatal complications, compared to naturally conceived pregnancies, has been reported. While there are many studies that compare pregnancies after assisted reproductive techniques with spontaneously conceived pregnancies, fewer data are available that evaluate the differences between IVF and ICSI-conceived pregnancies. The aim of our present study was, therefore, to compare obstetric and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies conceived after in vitro fertilization (IVF) versus intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI).

Methods

Three-hundred thirty four women who had become pregnant after an IVF or ICSI procedure resulted in a total of 530 children referred between 2003 und 2009 to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Medical University of Vienna, a tertiary care center, and were included in this retrospective cohort study. We assessed maternal and fetal parameters in both groups (IVF and ICSI). The main study outcomes were preterm delivery, the need for neonatal intensive care, and congenital malformations. Moreover, we compared the course of pregnancy between both groups and the occurrence of complications that led to maternal hospitalization during pregnancy.

Results

There were 80 children conceived via ICSI and 450 children conceived via IVF.

Mean gestational age was significantly lower in the ICSI group (p = 0.001). After ICSI, the birth weight (p = 0.008) and the mean APGAR values after 1 minute and after 10 minutes were lower compared to that of the IVF group (p = 0.016 and p = 0.047, respectively). Moreover, ICSI-conceived children had to be hospitalized more often at a neonatal intensive care unit (p = 0.004). There was no difference in pH of the umbilical artery or in major congenital malformations between the two groups. Pregnancy complications (i.e., premature rupture of membranes, cervical insufficiency, and premature uterine contractions) and the need for maternal hospitalization during pregnancy were found significantly more often after IVF (p = 0.0016 and p = 0.0095, respectively), compared to the ICSI group.

Conclusions

When comparing IVF versus ICSI-conceived pregnancies at a tertiary care center, we found the course of pregnancy to be more complicated after IVF, whereas the primary fetal outcome seemed to be better in this group than after ICSI treatment.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked FUS/TLS alters stress granule assembly and dynamics
Authors: Baron Desiree M , Kaushansky Laura J , Ward Catherine L , Sama Reddy Ranjith K , Chian Ru-Ju , Boggio Kristin J , Quaresma Alexandre J C , Nickerson Jeffrey A , Bosco Daryl A
Published: August 2013

Background

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-linked fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS or FUS) is concentrated within cytoplasmic stress granules under conditions of induced stress. Since only the mutants, but not the endogenous wild-type FUS, are associated with stress granules under most of the stress conditions reported to date, the relationship between FUS and stress granules represents a mutant-specific phenotype and thus may be of significance in mutant-induced pathogenesis. While the association of mutant-FUS with stress granules is well established, the effect of the mutant protein on stress granules has not been examined. Here we investigated the effect of mutant-FUS on stress granule formation and dynamics under conditions of oxidative stress.

Results

We found that expression of mutant-FUS delays the assembly of stress granules. However, once stress granules containing mutant-FUS are formed, they are more dynamic, larger and more abundant compared to stress granules lacking FUS. Once stress is removed, stress granules disassemble more rapidly in cells expressing mutant-FUS. These effects directly correlate with the degree of mutant-FUS cytoplasmic localization, which is induced by mutations in the nuclear localization signal of the protein. We also determine that the RGG domains within FUS play a key role in its association to stress granules. While there has been speculation that arginine methylation within these RGG domains modulates the incorporation of FUS into stress granules, our results demonstrate that this post-translational modification is not involved.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that mutant-FUS alters the dynamic properties of stress granules, which is consistent with a gain-of-toxic mechanism for mutant-FUS in stress granule assembly and cellular stress response.
An optimization method for parameter extraction of metals using modified Debye model
Authors: Sagor Rakibul Hasan , Saber Md Ghulam , Al-Amin Md Thesun , Al Noor Asif
Published: August 2013

The Modified Debye Model (MDM) parameters for five metals are presented. A nonlinear optimization algorithm has been developed in order to extract the parameters for the metals. The extracted parameters have been used to determine the complex relative permittivity of the metals in optical and near-IR region of electromagnetic spectrum. The obtained results have been compared with the experimental values and an excellent agreement has been found.
Improvement of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet conversion in Oplopanax elatus, an endangered medicinal woody plant
Authors: Moon Heung-Kyu , Kim Yong-Wook , Hong Yong-Pyo , Park So-Young
Published: August 2013

Oplopanax elatusis a medicinal plant on the verge of extinction because of overexploitation. In the present study, the effects of various factors on enhancing somatic embryogenesis and plantlet conversion were studied. Mature seeds were collected from a total of 13 plants from 4 mountains in South Korea, and the genetic distances were calculated to analyze the effect of genotype on somatic embryogenesis. Results of cluster analysis and the unweighted-pair-group method with arithmetic mean of 13 genotypes indicated the presence of 3 main groups. Both genotype and explant type affected the induction of somatic embryos (SEs). Sorak 2 and root were found to be the most suitable genotype and explant type, respectively, for SE induction inO. elatus. Among the different types of carbon sources tested, 5% sucrose induced the maximum number of SEs. The formation and development of SEs were significantly influenced by culture density; thus, 10 mg embryonic callus was found to be the most suitable for SE induction. The highest rates of germination and SE conversion were obtained in a germination medium containing 1.8 gelrite and 3.2 g·l-1agar. In addition, 80% of the plantlets that were transplanted into artificial soil acclimatized successfully. Thus, our results showed that the percentage survival ofO. elatusduring in vitro proliferation could be increased by optimizing to the somatic embryogenesis system.
Low-dose CT for quantitative analysis in acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Vecchi Vittoria , Langer Thomas , Bellomi Massimo , Rampinelli Cristiano , Chung Kevin K , Cancio Leopoldo C , Gattinoni Luciano , Batchinsky Andriy I
Published: August 2013

Introduction

The clinical use of serial quantitative computed tomography (CT) to characterize lung disease and guide the optimization of mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is limited by the risk of cumulative radiation exposure and by the difficulties and risks related to transferring patients to the CT room. We evaluated the effects of tube current-time product (mAs) variations on quantitative results in healthy lungs and in experimental ARDS in order to support the use of low-dose CT for quantitative analysis.

Methods

In 14 sheep chest CT was performed at baseline and after the induction of ARDS via intravenous oleic acid injection. For each CT session, two consecutive scans were obtained applying two different mAs: 60 mAs was paired with 140, 15 or 7.5 mAs. All other CT parameters were kept unaltered (tube voltage 120 kVp, collimation 32 × 0.5 mm, pitch 0.85, matrix 512 × 512, pixel size 0.625 × 0.625 mm). Quantitative results obtained at different mAs were compared via Bland-Altman analysis.

Results

Good agreement was observed between 60 mAs and 140 mAs and between 60 mAs and 15 mAs (all biases less than 1%). A further reduction of mAs to 7.5 mAs caused an increase in the bias of poorly aerated and nonaerated tissue (-2.9% and 2.4%, respectively) and determined a significant widening of the limits of agreement for the same compartments (-10.5% to 4.8% for poorly aerated tissue and -5.9% to 10.8% for nonaerated tissue). Estimated mean effective dose at 140, 60, 15 and 7.5 mAs corresponded to 17.8, 7.4, 2.0 and 0.9 mSv, respectively. Image noise of scans performed at 140, 60, 15 and 7.5 mAs corresponded to 10, 16, 38 and 74 Hounsfield units, respectively.

Conclusions

A reduction of effective dose up to 70% has been achieved with minimal effects on lung quantitative results. Low-dose computed tomography provides accurate quantitative results and could be used to characterize lung compartment distribution and possibly monitor time-course of ARDS with a lower risk of exposure to ionizing radiation. A further radiation dose reduction is associated with lower accuracy in quantitative results.
Clinical and molecular characterization of HER2amplified-pancreatic cancer
Authors: Chou Angela , Waddell Nicola , Cowley Mark J , Gill Anthony J , Chang David K , Patch Ann-Marie , Nones Katia , Wu Jianmin , Pinese Mark , Johns Amber L , Miller David K , Kassahn Karin S , Nagrial Adnan M , Wasan Harpreet , Goldstein David , Toon Christopher W , Chin Venessa , Chantrill Lorraine , Humphris Jeremy , Mead R Scott , Rooman Ilse , Samra Jaswinder S , Pajic Marina , Musgrove Elizabeth A , Pearson John V , Morey Adrienne L , Grimmond Sean M , Biankin Andrew V
Published: August 2013

Background

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal and molecularly diverse malignancies. Repurposing of therapeutics that target specific molecular mechanisms in different disease types offers potential for rapid improvements in outcome. Although HER2 amplification occurs in pancreatic cancer, it is inadequately characterized to exploit the potential of anti-HER2 therapies.

Methods

HER2 amplification was detected and further analyzed using multiple genomic sequencing approaches. Standardized reference laboratory assays defined HER2 amplification in a large cohort of patients (n = 469) with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Results

An amplified inversion event (1 MB) was identified at the HER2 locus in a patient with PDAC. Using standardized laboratory assays, we established diagnostic criteria for HER2 amplification in PDAC, and observed a prevalence of 2%. Clinically, HER2- amplified PDAC was characterized by a lack of liver metastases, and a preponderance of lung and brain metastases. Excluding breast and gastric cancer, the incidence of HER2-amplified cancers in the USA is >22,000 per annum.

Conclusions

HER2 amplification occurs in 2% of PDAC, and has distinct features with implications for clinical practice. The molecular heterogeneity of PDAC implies that even an incidence of 2% represents an attractive target for anti-HER2 therapies, as options for PDAC are limited. Recruiting patients based on HER2 amplification, rather than organ of origin, could make trials of anti-HER2 therapies feasible in less common cancer types.
A new look at the Dynamic Similarity Hypothesis: the importance of swing phase
Authors: Raichlen David A. , Pontzer Herman , Shapiro Liza J.
Published: August 2013

The Dynamic Similarity Hypothesis (DSH) suggests that when animals of different size walk at similar Froude numbers (equal ratios of inertial and gravitational forces) they will use similar size-corrected gaits. This application of similarity theory to animal biomechanics has contributed to fundamental insights in the mechanics and evolution of a diverse set of locomotor systems. However, despite its popularity, many mammals fail to walk with dynamically similar stride lengths, a key element of gait that determines spontaneous speed and energy costs. Here, we show that the applicability of the DSH is dependent on the inertial forces examined. In general, the inertial forces are thought to be the centripetal force of the inverted pendulum model of stance phase, determined by the length of the limb. If instead we model inertial forces as the centripetal force of the limb acting as a suspended pendulum during swing phase (determined by limb center of mass position), the DSH for stride length variation is fully supported. Thus, the DSH shows that inter-specific differences in spatial kinematics are tied to the evolution of limb mass distribution patterns. Selection may act on morphology to produce a given stride length, or alternatively, stride length may be a “spandrel” of selection acting on limb mass distribution.
The class I-specific HDAC inhibitor MS-275 modulates the differentiation potential of mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Franci Gianluigi , Casalino Laura , Petraglia Francesca , Miceli Marco , Menafra Roberta , Radic Branka , Tarallo Valeria , Vitale Monica , Scarfò Marzia , Pocsfalvi Gabriella , Baldi Alfonso , Ambrosino Concetta , Zambrano Nicola , Patriarca Eduardo , De Falco Sandro , Minchiotti Gabriella , Stunnenberg Hendrik G. , Altucci Lucia
Published: August 2013

Exploitation of embryonic stem cells (ESC) for therapeutic use and biomedical applications is severely hampered by the risk of teratocarcinoma formation. Here, we performed a screen of selected epi-modulating compounds and demonstrate that a transient exposure of mouse ESC to MS-275 (Entinostat), a class I histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDAC), modulates differentiation and prevents teratocarcinoma formation. Morphological and molecular data indicate that MS-275-primed ESCs are committed towards neural differentiation, which is supported by transcriptome analyses. Interestingly, in vitro withdrawal of MS-275 reverses the primed cells to the pluripotent state. In vivo, MS275-primed ES cells injected into recipient mice give only rise to benign teratomas but not teratocarcinomas with prevalence of neural-derived structures. In agreement, MS-275-primed ESC are unable to colonize blastocysts. These findings provide evidence that a transient alteration of acetylation alters the ESC fate.
A gene regulation network controlled by Celf1 protein–rbpj mRNA interaction in Xenopus somite segmentation
Authors: Cibois Marie , Gautier-Courteille Carole , Kodjabachian Laurent , Paillard Luc
Published: August 2013

Somite segmentation is impaired in Xenopus celf1 morphant embryos. The Celf1 RNA-binding protein targets bound mRNAs for rapid degradation, and antisense approaches demonstrated that segmentation defects in celf1 morphants were due to a derepression of rbpj mRNA. Rbpj protein is a key player of Notch signalling. Because segmentation involves complex cross-talk between several signalling pathways, we analysed how rbpj derepression impacted these pathways. We found that rbpj derepression stimulated the Notch pathway. Notch positively controlled the expression of cyp26a, which encodes a retinoic acid (RA)-degrading enzyme. Thus, rbpj derepression led to cyp26a overexpression and RA attenuation. It also repressed fgf8, consistent with an inhibition of FGF signalling. Pharmacological inhibition of the FGF pathway repressed cyp26a, but rbpj derepression was sufficient to restore cyp26a expression. Hence, while it was known that the FGF pathway antagonized RA signalling through expression of cyp26a, our results suggest that Rbpj mediates this antagonism. Furthermore, they show that the post-transcriptional repression exerted by Celf1 on rbpj mRNA is required to keep cyp26a expression under the control of FGF signalling. We conclude that rbpj repression by Celf1 is important to couple the FGF and RA pathways in Xenopus segmentation.
Single cell lineage analysis of mouse embryonic stem cells at the exit from pluripotency
Authors: Trott Jamie , Martinez Arias Alfonso
Published: August 2013

Understanding how interactions between extracellular signalling pathways and transcription factor networks influence cellular decision making will be crucial for understanding mammalian embryogenesis and for generating specialised cell types in vitro. To this end, pluripotent mouse Embryonic Stem (mES) cells have proven to be a useful model system. However, understanding how transcription factors and signalling pathways affect decisions made by individual cells is confounded by the fact that measurements are generally made on groups of cells, whilst individual mES cells differentiate at different rates and towards different lineages, even in conditions that favour a particular lineage. Here we have used single-cell measurements of transcription factor expression and Wnt/β-catenin signalling activity to investigate their effects on lineage commitment decisions made by individual cells. We find that pluripotent mES cells exhibit differing degrees of heterogeneity in their expression of important regulators from pluripotency, depending on the signalling environment to which they are exposed. As mES cells differentiate, downregulation of Nanog and Oct4 primes cells for neural commitment, whilst loss of Sox2 expression primes cells for primitive streak commitment. Furthermore, we find that Wnt signalling acts through Nanog to direct cells towards a primitive streak fate, but that transcriptionally active β-catenin is associated with both neural and primitive streak commitment. These observations confirm and extend previous suggestions that pluripotency genes influence lineage commitment and demonstrate how their dynamic expression affects the direction of lineage commitment, whilst illustrating two ways in which the Wnt signalling pathway acts on this network during cell fate assignment.
Significant modulation of the hepatic proteome induced by exposure to low temperature inXenopus laevis
Authors: Nagasawa Kazumichi , Tanizaki Yuta , Okui Takehito , Watarai Atsuko , Ueda Shinobu , Kato Takashi
Published: August 2013

The African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, is an ectothermic vertebrate that can survive at low environmental temperatures. To gain insight into the molecular events induced by low body temperature, liver proteins were evaluated at the standard laboratory rearing temperature (22°C, control) and a low environmental temperature (5°C, cold exposure). Using nano-flow liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, we identified 58 proteins that differed in abundance. A subsequent Gene Ontology analysis revealed that the tyrosine and phenylalanine catabolic processes were modulated by cold exposure, which resulted in decreases in hepatic tyrosine and phenylalanine, respectively. Similarly, levels of pyruvate kinase and enolase, which are involved in glycolysis and glycogen synthesis, were also decreased, whereas levels of glycogen phosphorylase, which participates in glycogenolysis, were increased. Therefore, we measured metabolites in the respective pathways and found that levels of hepatic glycogen and glucose were decreased. Although the liver was under oxidative stress because of iron accumulation caused by hepatic erythrocyte destruction, the hepatic NADPH/NADP ratio was not changed. Thus, glycogen is probably utilized mainly for NADPH supply rather than for energy or glucose production. In conclusion, X. laevis responds to low body temperature by modulating its hepatic proteome, which results in altered carbohydrate metabolism.
Auto- and heterotrophic responses of the coralPorites luteato large amplitude internal waves
Authors: Pacherres Cesar O. , Schmidt Gertraud M. , Richter Claudio
Published: August 2013

Large amplitude internal waves (LAIW) cause frequent and severe changes in the physico-chemical environment of Andaman Sea coral reefs and are a potentially important source of disturbance for corals. To explore the coral response to LAIW, prey capture disposition and photosynthesis were investigated in relation to changes in seawater temperature, pH, flow speed, and food availability in LAIW simulation studies under controlled laboratory conditions, using Porites lutea as a model organism. Although food presence stimulated polyp expansion, we found an overriding effect of low temperature (19°C) causing retraction of the coral polyps into their calices, particularly when pH was altered concomitantly. Decreases in pH alone, however, caused the expansion of the polyps. The exposure history of the colonies played a crucial role in coral responses: prior field exposure to LAIW yielded lower retraction levels than in LAIW-inexperienced corals, suggesting acclimatization. Low temperature (19°C) exposure did not seem to influence the photosynthetic performance, but LAIW-experienced corals showed higher values of maximum dark adapted quantum yield (Fv/Fm) of photosystem II (PSII) than LAIW-inexperienced controls. Collectively, these data suggest that P. lutea, the dominant hermatypic coral in the Andaman Sea, can acclimatize to extreme changes in its abiotic environment by modulating its mixotrophic nutrition through polyp expansion and potential feeding as well as its photosynthetic efficiency.
Closed-loop stabilization of the jamming avoidance response reveals its locally unstable and globally nonlinear dynamics
Authors: Madhav Manu S. , Stamper Sarah A. , Fortune Eric S. , Cowan Noah J.
Published: August 2013

The jamming avoidance response, or JAR, in the weakly electric fish has been analyzed at all levels of organization, from whole-organism behavior down to specific ion channels. Nevertheless, a parsimonious description of the JAR behavior in terms of a dynamical system model has not been achieved at least in part due to the fact that 'avoidance' behaviors are both intrinsically unstable and nonlinear. We overcame the instability of the JAR in Eigenmannia virescens by closing a feedback loop around the behavioral response of the animal. Specifically, the instantaneous frequency of a jamming stimulus was tied to the fish's own electrogenic frequency by a feedback law. Without feedback, the fish's own frequency diverges from the stimulus frequency, but appropriate feedback stabilizes the behavior. After stabilizing the system, we measured the responses in the fish's instantaneous frequency to various stimuli. A delayed first-order linear system model fit the behavior near the equilibrium. Coherence to white noise stimuli together with quantitative agreement across stimulus types supported this local linear model. Next, we examined the intrinsic nonlinearity of the behavior using clamped-frequency-difference experiments to extend the model beyond the neighborhood of the equilibrium. The resulting nonlinear model is composed of competing motor return and sensory escape terms. The model reproduces responses to step and ramp changes in the difference frequency (dF)and predicts a 'snap-through' bifurcation as a function of dF that we confirmed experimentally.
Limits to sustained energy intake XXI: effect of exposing the mother, but not her pups, to a cold environment during lactation in mice
Authors: Valencak Teresa G. , Wright Paul , Weir Ashleigh , Mitchell Sharon E. , Vaanholt Lobke M. , Hambly Catherine , Krol Elzbieta , Speakman John R.
Published: August 2013

The capacity of females to dissipate heat may constrain sustained energy intake during lactation. However, some previous experiments supporting this concept have confounded the impact of temperature on the mothers with the impact on the pups. We aimed to separate these effects in lactating laboratory mice (MF1 strain) by giving the mothers access to cages at 2 ambient temperatures (10 and 21°C) joined by a tube. Food was available only in the cold cage, but females could also choose go to this cage to cool down while pups were housed in the warmer cage. Control animals had access to the same configuration of cages but with both maintained at 21°C. We hypothesised that if females were limited by heat dissipation, alleviating the heat load by providing a cool environment would allow them to dissipate more heat, intake more food, generate more milk and hence wean heavier litters. We measured maternal energy budgets and monitored time courses of core body temperature and physical activity. To minimize the variance in energy budgets all litters were adjusted to 12 (±1) pups. Females in the experimental group had higher energy intake (F1,14= 15.8; P=0.0014), higher assimilated energy (F1,13= 10.7; P=0.006) and provided their pups with more milk (F1,13= 6.65; P=0.03), consistent with the heat dissipation limit theory. Yet, despite keeping demand constant, mean pup growth rates were similar (F1,13=0.06; P=0.8) thus our data emphasise the difficulties of inferring milk production indirectly from pup growth.
Trade-off between camouflage and sexual dimorphism revealed by UV digital imaging: the case of Australian Mallee Dragons (Ctenophorus fordi)
Authors: Garcia Jair E. , Rohr Detlef , Dyer Adrian G.
Published: August 2013

Colour patterns displayed by animals may need to balance the opposing requirements of sexual selection through display and natural selection through camouflage. Currently little is known about the possibility of the dual purpose of an animal colour pattern in the UV region of the spectrum, which is potentially perceivable by both predators and conspecifics for detection or communication purposes. Here we implemented linearised digital UV photography to characterise and quantify the colour pattern of an endemic Australian Agamid lizard classically regarded as monomorphic when considering data from the visible region of the spectrum. Our results indicate a widespread presence of UV elements across the entire body of the lizards and these patterns vary significantly in intensity, size, and frequency between genders. These results were modeled considering either lizard or avian visual characteristics revealing that UV reflectance represents a trade-off between the requirements of sexual displaying to con specifics, and concealment from avian predators.
Phylogeny and effects of anoxia on hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated channel gene expression in the heart of a primitive chordate, the Pacific Hagfish (eptatretus stoutii)
Authors: Wilson Christopher M. , Stecyk Jonathan A. W. , Couturier Christine S. , Nilsson Goran E. , Farrell Anthony P.
Published: August 2013

The aneural heart of the Pacific hagfish, Eptatretus stoutii, varies heart rate four-fold during recovery from anoxia. Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, which play an important role in establishing the pacemaker rate of vertebrate hearts, were postulated to be present in this ancestral vertebrate heart and that changes in hagfish heart rate with oxygen availability involved altered HCN expression. Partial gene cloning revealed, six HCN isoforms in the hagfish heart. Hagfish representatives of HCN2, HCN3 and HCN4 were discovered, with HCN2 and HCN3 existing as isoforms designated HCN2a, HCN2b, HCN3a, two paralogs of HCN3b, and HCN3c. Phylogenetic analysis revealed HCN3b and HCN3c to be ancestral, followed by HCN3a, HCN4 and HCN2. Moreover, HCN3a expression was dominant in both the atrial and ventricular chambers, suggesting that the HCN4 dominance in adult mammalian hearts appeared after hagfish divergence. HCN expression was higher in the atrium than in the ventricle, as might be expected given that atrial beating rate is known to be faster than the ventricular rate. In addition, mRNA expression under normoxic conditions was compared with that following 24 h of anoxia, and either a 2-h or a 36-h recovery in normoxic water. In the ventricle, anoxia decreased HCN3a but not HCN4 expression. In contrast, atrial HCN3a expression significantly increased following 2 h of recovery, before returning to control levels following 36 h of recovery, possibly contributing to heart rate changes previously observed under these conditions.
High metabolic and water-loss rates in caterpillar aggregations: evidence against the resource-conservation hypothesis
Authors: Schoombie Ruben E. , Boardman Leigh , Groenewald Berlizé , Glazier Douglas S. , van Daalen Corné E. , Clusella-Trullas Susana , Terblanche John S.
Published: August 2013

Several reasons have been proposed for animal aggregation, including energy or water conservation. However, the latter physiological hypotheses have not been well investigated. Here, we report the effects of aggregation on metabolic (VCO2) and evaporative water-loss rates (VH2O) of the gregarious caterpillar Eutricha capensis, by comparing individuals and groups of individuals (n=10-100). Contrary to findings from previous physiological studies, we did not find an advantage to aggregation: unexpectedly, VCO2 and VH2O did not decrease with increasing group size. VCO2 and VH2O generally remained constant or increased in larger groups relative to individuals. The amount of water lost per unit of CO2 exchanged (VH2O:VCO2 ratio) showed a marked increase in grouped caterpillars, particularly in larger groups. Other benefits of aggregation (e.g. reduced predation or increased growth rates) likely outweigh these potential costs, because individuals of E. capensis aggregate voluntarily despite no obvious energetic or hygric advantage, and other potentially confounding group effects (e.g. increased thermoregulatory advantage or whole-animal activity) are inconsequential. The results of this study provide an important exception to physiological studies reporting enhanced energy or water conservation in animal groups.
Visual Expression of Beauty and Ugliness in Adolescent Art
Authors: Kárpáti Andrea , Kay Lisa
Published: August 2013

In this article, we present preliminary findings of a cross-cultural pilot study undertaken on the common borders of education and therapy through art. We examine images of beauty and ugliness drawn by adolescents in Hungary and the United States. Using beautiful and ugly drawing tasks as a personality test was first developed by researchers at an interactive digital testing site in Hungary. However, this method had not been used as a research tool, so with the developers’ permission, a small pilot was performed to facilitate standardization of the task. The described research method is especially useful for adolescents and young adults whose verbal communication is richly supplemented by their creative imagery. Our analysis focused on themes, emotional responses in the drawings, which are vital signs that express adolescents’ perceptions about the two extreme aesthetic experiences. The use of the Ugly and Beautiful Image Task (UBIT) as an educational and therapeutic assessment tool is also addressed.

A tanulmány egy kultúraközi összehasonlító vizsgálat első eredményeit tartalmazza, amely a művészetterápia és a vizuális nevelés közös határain mozog. Magyar kamaszok alkotásait hasonlítjuk össze, akik a szépség és a rútság fogalmát próbálták meg kifejezni képi eszközökkel. A két ellentétes minőség megjelenítését pszichológiai tesztként alkalmazták először a Psychogalaxy weboldalt megalkotó kutatók. Korábban ezt a feladatot kutatási célra még nem alkalmazták. A fejleszők engedélyével egy kismintás pilot kísérletet végeztünk, amelyben a feladat értékelési rendszerének finomításához kívántunk hozzájárulni. A vizsgálati módszer különösen hasznos kamaszok és fiatal felnőttek esetében, akiknek a szóbeli kommunikációját gazdag információs háttérrel egészíti ki kreatív képi közléseik. Elemzésünkben a rajzok témáival és az alkotók érzelmi reakcióival foglalkoztunk, melyekből kitűnik, hogyan vélekednek az esztétikai ellentét-párról. Írásunk végén a Rút és Szép Képalkotó Feladat (RSZKF) pedagógiai és művészetterápiás alkalmazási lehetőségeit is felvetjük.
‘Silver Scorpion’ Communal comics and disability identities between the United States and Syria
Authors: Karr Valerie L
Published: August 2013

This article will explore the development and expression of disability identity and agency through a cross-cultural communal art experience, the creation of comic book heroes with disabilities. The narrative voice of youth participants with disabilities from the U.S. and Syria was examined to understand ways in which this group learning experience in visual art facilitated their causal agency and the development of disability identity. This article explores artistic expression and human rights education as curricular spaces for the development of causal agency skills, and investigates how the final artistic product represented the vision of youth participants. The study found that the creative process encouraged the development of causal agency skills through visual narrative. For future educational interventions at the intersection of art, youth and disability culture, this framework may serve to illuminate particular youth and disability experiences through stories, goals, and representations.
Factors affecting low ceramics specialization decisions within the KNUST Industrial Art degree programme
Authors: Nortey Samuel , Opoku-Amankwa Kwasi , Bodjawah Edwin K.
Published: August 2013

This article looked at the trend of specialization within the four-year Industrial Art degree programme at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Specialization decisions during the period 1999–2011 were studied, which confirmed that ceramics receives low specialization after the first-year diagnostic studies. The Social Learning Theory provided the framework for the study to explore factors that influence students of the Industrial Art department in low ceramics majoring as compared to the other disciplines (textiles design and metals product design). Findings showed that there is a significant association between studying ceramics in high school and students’ decision to specialize in ceramics at the university level. The results obtained from the odds ratio (OR) further indicated that if students are taught ceramics in high school, then they are 115.96 times more likely to specialize in the course at the university level. The study also revealed using the logistic regression that the course content satisfaction and other explanatory variables such as age, gender and location influenced decisions. The findings of the study strongly support the idea of background student motivation and the need for teaching that is exploratory, practice focused, problem centred and process oriented to motivate first-year students in majoring in ceramics.
Lessons about identity formation from contemporary art
Authors: Mason Rachel , Vella Raphael
Published: August 2013

This article describes and interprets artworks that interrogate identity and explores their potential application as a resource for teaching in schools. The artworks in question were selected for interdisciplinary curriculum experiments carried out by research teams taking part in the Images and Identity project funded by the European Commission. There is much public debate about the changing nature of identity today and the art and citizenship teachers collaborating on curriculum development during this project used contemporary artworks to encourage young people to reflect on, explore and express their understanding of their identities within the context of Europe. The article draws on social science theory to explicate some of the artworks sourced for the project that examine identity as a personal and/or socially constructed representation of self (ethnic, national, civic, etc.) and/or engage with identity politics in various ways. It ends with a brief discussion of ways art teachers could use contemporary art to explore citizen identifications with Europe.
Motivar para Pensar Críticamente
Authors: Olivares Sonia , Saiz Carlos , Rivas Silvia F.
Published: August 2013

Introducción. En este artículo presentamos los resultados ofrecidos a partir de una experiencia innovadora docente que fomenta el desarrollo de las habilidades de pensamiento crítico, a través de una intervención de naturaleza motivacional. Entendiendo el pensamiento crítico como una teoría de la acción, "pensamos para resolver problemas", y acompañando a esta concepción de un programa de enseñar/aprender a pensar y de metodologías activas como el aprendizaje basado en problemas (ABP), desarrollamos un programa paralelo que persigue fomentar la motivación para el desarrollo de dichas habilidades. Esta instrucción motivacional se sustenta en una opción teórica que entiende la motivación como el resultado de dos variables Expectativa/Valor. Estos dos conceptos posibilitan una intervención motivación en pensamiento crítico más eficaz.Método. En este estudio participaron 89 universitarios españoles, con edades comprendidas entre los 20 y 30 años y de ambos sexos, quienes fueron evaluados mediante el PENCRISAL y el CMA tanto al inicio como al final de la intervención, junto con una evaluación continua. Durante dicha intervención, la totalidad de los alumnos recibieron una instrucción en pensamiento crítico. Sin embargo, sólo la mitad de la muestra participó además en un programa motivacional.Resultados. Los resultados revelan que la instrucción en las habilidades de pensamiento crítico, a través de ARDESOS, ha sido exitosa. Además, los resultados obtenidos en motivación, han producido un mantenimiento de las puntuaciones en el grupo que disfrutó del programa motivacional.Discusión. Los resultados muestran que la intervención motivacional ha funcionado en buena medida. Sin embargo, es necesario incrementar estas mejoras. De esta manera, se aporta así una herramienta para el estudio de los factores motivacionales del pensamiento crítico, el cual puede ser especialmente útil en la perspectiva de la instrucción y la intervención pedagógica.