bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TNF-α-mediated microRNA-136 induces differentiation of myeloid cells by targeting NFIA
Authors: Mei Shiyue , Liu Yu , Wu Xue , He Qingsheng , Min Siping , Li Ling , Zhang Yuan , Yang Rongcun
Published: September 2015

Immune cell-lineage specification and function are influenced by progenitor origin and environmental factors. The mechanism of differentiation of immune cells, such as neutrophils, monocytes, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, in inflammatory environments has not been elucidated completely. In this study, we have identified human microRNA-136 as a positive regulator of the differentiation of granulocytes and monocytes. Ectopic microRNA-136 induced cells to express higher levels of CD11b, CD14, and C/EBPɛ, secrete more cytokines, and synthesize higher levels of reactive oxygen species and H2O2. microRNA-136 was shown to target and degrade multiple differentiation-associated molecules, such as the transcription factor NFIA, which induced the release of another microRNA, microRNA-223, with the ability to promote CD11b expression. Furthermore, microRNA-136 expression was remarkably increased by TNF-α, which activated NF-κB to bind to the DNA-promoter region controlling microRNA-136 expression. Additionally, TNF-α may alter NFIA expression through its modulation of microRNA-136 expression. Thus, TNF-α-mediated microRNA-136 may play a critical role in the generation and differentiation of inflammatory immune cells.
Mediators and molecular pathways involved in the regulation of neutrophil extracellular trap formation mediated by activated platelets
Authors: Carestia Agostina , Kaufman Tomás , Rivadeneyra Leonardo , Landoni Verónica Inés , Pozner Roberto Gabriel , Negrotto Soledad , D’Atri Lina Paola , Gómez Ricardo Martín , Schattner Mirta
Published: August 2015

In addition to being key elements in hemostasis and thrombosis, platelets amplify neutrophil function. We aimed to gain further insight into the stimuli, mediators, molecular pathways, and regulation of neutrophil extracellular trap formation mediated by human platelets. Platelets stimulated by lipopolysaccharide, a wall component of gram-negative bacteria, Pam3-cysteine-serine-lysine 4, a mimetic of lipopeptide from gram-positive bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, or physiologic platelet agonists promoting neutrophil extracellular trap formation and myeloperoxidase-associated DNA activity under static and flow conditions. Although P-selectin or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa were not involved, platelet glycoprotein Ib, neutrophil cluster of differentiation 18, and the release of von Willebrand factor and platelet factor 4 seemed to be critical for the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps. The secretion of these molecules depended on thromboxane A2 production triggered by lipopolysaccharide or Pam3-cysteine-serine-lysine 4 but not on high concentrations of thrombin. Accordingly, aspirin selectively inhibited platelet-mediated neutrophil extracellular trap generation. Signaling through extracellular signal-regulated kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and Src kinases, but not p38 or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, was involved in platelet-triggered neutrophil extracellular trap release. Platelet-mediated neutrophil extracellular trap formation was inhibited by prostacyclin. Our results support a role for stimulated platelets in promoting neutrophil extracellular trap formation, reveal that an endothelium-derived molecule contributes to limiting neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and highlight platelet inhibition as a potential target for controlling neutrophil extracellular trap cell death.
Waveform similarity for quality control of event locations, time picking, and moment tensor solutions
Authors: Castellanos Fernando , van der Baan Mirko
Published: September 2015

Multiplet analysis assumes that events with highly similar waveforms originate in the same source region and with the same source mechanism. We have determined how waveform similarity could be used at different stages of microseismic processing and interpretation for quality-control purposes to assess internal consistency among events from the same multiplet group. Crosscorrelation (CC) values decayed with interevent distance, and we found that doublets with large separation distances revealed location errors due to mispicks. Using histograms of differential times between highly correlated events (doublets), time-picking errors could also be detected. Waveform correlation could also detect inconsistencies in derived source mechanisms. Doublets should fall within similar regions in the Hudson source-type plots even for events with large nondouble-couple components or when the inversion results were internally inconsistent. A similar assessment was done by plotting the P- and T-axes of multiplets in a focal sphere. We used a minimum CC threshold of 90%, a sufficiently high level, such that the assumption of waveform similarity remained valid, and we analyzed a microseismic data set recorded during two stages of a hydraulic fracturing experiment to demonstrate these quality-control procedures. These techniques could be used in other settings, such as geothermal studies, mining projects, reservoir monitoring, and earthquake seismology and were most beneficial in scenarios in which repeating events were expected, facilitating the detection of compounded errors commonly encountered in microseismic analysis.
Model reduction and uncertainty analysis in inverse problems
Authors: Fernández-Martínez Juan Luis
Published: September 2015

Nonlinear inverse problems in industry typically have an underdetermined character because of the high number of model parameters needed to achieve accurate data predictions. The fact that inverse problems are highly underdetermined implies that many solutions are compatible with the prior information and fit the observed data within the same error bounds. These solutions are called equivalent and are located in one or several flat disconnected curvilinear valleys of the cost-function topography. Random sampling of these equivalent models is impossible because of the curse of dimensionality and the high computational cost needed for providing the corresponding forward predictions because in most of the currently used sampling methods, sampling and forward evaluation are coupled. In addition, in most cases, the sampling methodologies have a random character. Analyzing the importance of model reduction in the uncertainty analysis of nonlinear inverse and optimization problems shows that model reduction alleviates the ill-posed character of the corresponding inverse problem and allows efficient deterministic sampling of the equivalent solutions and/or optimization in the reduced basis set. Such problems are common in geophysical inversion and in reservoir production optimization and history matching.
Memorials
Authors: Aizenberg Arkady M. , Fomel Sergey , Landa Evgeny , Pajchel Jan , Pajchel Bibianna , Helle Hans , Moser Tijmen Jan
Published: September 2015

Memorial for: Kamill D. Klem-Musatov
Student Zone
Authors: Ford Linda , Mulumbu Elly Bogi , Swiney Mick
Published: September 2015

Students from four SEG Student Chapters gained valuable leadership skills by hosting International Geosciences Student Conferences (IGSC) in four regions around the world this summer. Hundreds of people attended these student-led events to share research and to network with other students and sponsors. In addition to technical programs with oral and poster presentations from students, each conference hosted distinguished professionals whose presentations challenged students with current issues and research in the geosciences. Each conference was held over three days and included a Challenge Bowl competition and field trips in addition to the technical program. All details, including budgeting, marketing, securing sponsorships, inviting guest lecturers, and planning social events, were carried out by students. Significant funding for IGSCs is provided by Platinum Sponsor Statoil.
The impact of UVB radiation on the glycoprotein glue of orb-weaving spider capture thread
Authors: Stellwagen Sarah D. , Opell Brent D. , Clouse Mary E.
Published: September 2015

Many spider orb-webs are exposed to sunlight and the potentially damaging effects of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. We examined the effect of UVB on the viscoelastic glycoprotein core of glue droplets deposited on the prey capture threads of these webs, hypothesizing that webs built by species that occupy sunny habitats are less susceptible to UVB damage than are webs built by species that prefer shaded forest habitats or by nocturnal species. Threads were tested shortly after being collected in the early morning and after being exposed to UVB energy equivalent to a day of summer sun and three times this amount. Droplets kept in a dark chamber allowed us to evaluate post-production changes. Droplet volume was unaffected by treatments, indicating that UVB did not damage the hygroscopic compounds in the aqueous layer that covers droplets. UVB exposure did not affect energies of droplet extension for species from exposed and partially to mostly shaded habitats (Argiope aurantia, Leucauge venusta and Verrucosa arenata). However, UVB exposure reduced the energy of droplet extension in Micrathena gracilis from shaded forests and Neoscona crucifera, which forages at night. Only in L. venusta did the energy of droplet extension increase after the dark treatment, suggesting endogenous molecular alignment. This study adds UVB irradiation to the list of factors (humidity, temperature and strain rate) known to affect the performance of spider glycoprotein glue, factors that must be more fully understood if adhesives that mimic spider glycoprotein glue are to be produced.
Midwives' approaches to early pushing urge in labour
Authors: Borrelli Sara E , Dattolo Carmen , Nespoli Antonella
Published: September 2015

The objectives of this mixed-methods study were: a) to investigate midwives' approaches to early pushing urge (EPU); and b) to explore midwives' perspectives and experiences of helping women cope with EPU. A quantitative observational methodology was adopted to investigate midwives' approaches to EPU in 60 cases. A qualitative phenomenological approach was carried out in order to gain more in-depth understanding of midwives' views and experiences of EPU management strategies. It was found that midwives mainly adopt two approaches in the case of EPU: letting the woman do what she feels, and a stop-pushing technique. The findings are presented as four main domains: a) midwives' approaches to EPU; b) drivers guiding midwives' approaches to EPU; c) influencing factors in helping women cope with EPU; d) variation of midwives' approaches to EPU over time.
Chest tubes part 1: types and indications
Authors: Boysen Søren R
Published: September 2015

Chest tubes are an essential part of managing pathology of the pleural space, being used to prevent fluid or air from accumulating in the pleural space following thoracotomy or repair of the diaphragm, as well for therapeutically managing a number of diseases resulting in pleural accumulation of fluid or air that fail to respond to thoracocentesis alone. Part 1 of this review will focus on the different options available for chest tubes and general indications for chest tubes, as well as specific indications for the different types of chest tubes and their advantages/disadvantages. Part 2 of the review will focus on the techniques to place chest tubes, and their management.
Problems of excess nutrients in psittacine diets
Authors: Perpiñán David
Published: September 2015

Conditions caused by excess nutrients in the diets of psittacine birds include obesity, atherosclerosis, lipomas, xanthomas, haemochromatosis and kidney failure among others. Both nutritional requirements and deleterious effects of nutrient excess in parrots are not completely known. This article describes the current knowledge on nutrient requirements and diseases caused by excess of nutrients in psittacine birds.
Botulinum toxin injections: managing the risks along with the wrinkles
Authors: Di-Scala Naomi
Published: September 2015

Anti-wrinkle injections continue to increase in popularity and remain the world's most-wanted minimally invasive cosmetic procedure. However, with more demand comes more risk and aesthetic nurses should both be aware of potential complications and know the best ways to handle client complaints. Naomi Di-Scala outlines the common issues faced by practitioners administering botulinum toxin
Scotland leads the way in regulating cosmetic procedures, but only by small steps
Authors: Collier Helena
Published: September 2015

While the UK Government continues to work on its response to recommendations from Health Education England, the Scottish Cosmetic Interventions Expert Group has proposed the regulation of independent cosmetic clinics by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. However, the report fails to acknowledge the fact that non-health professionals continue to inject and put the public at risk, says Helena Collier
Book Reviews
Authors: Keating Patrick , Aspell Luke , Mustafa Suzan Ashleigh , Khelifa Nadja Ben , Buckle Luke , Conterio Martyn , Robinson Matthew S. , Sayed Yusef
Published: September 2015

Love in the Time of Cinema, Kristi McKim, (2012) New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 208 pp., ISBN 9780230301368 (hbk), $90.00

Thomas Ince: Hollywood’s Independent Pioneer (Screen Classics), Brian Taves, (2011) Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 368 pp., ISBN 9780813134222 (hbk), $39.95

Greek Cinema: Texts, Histories, Identities, Lydia Papadimitriou and Yannis Tzioumakis (eds), (2012) Bristol: Intellect Ltd, 279 pp., ISBN 9781841504339 (pbk), £24.95, $40

Scotland: Global Cinema – Genres, Modes and Identities, David Martin-Jones, (2009) Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 254 pp., ISBN 9780748633913 (hbk), £70.00

Brutal Vision: The Neorealist Body in Postwar Italian Cinema, Karl Schoonover, (2012) Minneapolis and London: University of Minnesota Press, 283 pp., ISBN 9780816675555 (pbk), £18.50; ISBN 9780816675546 (hbk), £55.00

World Film Locations: London, Neil Mitchell (ed.), (2011) Bristol: Intellect, 136 pp., ISBN 9781841504841 (pbk), £11.50

Popular Italian Cinema: Culture and Politics in a Postwar Society, Flavia Brizio-Skov, (2011) London: I.B. Tauris, 255 pp., ISBN 9781848855724 (hbk), £50.58

Virtual Hallyu: Korean Cinema of the Global Era, Kyung Hyun Kim, (2011) Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 255 pp., ISBN 9780822351016 (pbk), $24.95; ISBN 9780822350880 (hbk), $89.95
Postfeminism and heavy metal in the United Kingdom: Sexy or sexist?
Authors: Savigny Heather , Sleight Sam
Published: August 2015

As feminist scholars, and heavy metal fans, it has been regularly pointed out that the two positions are inconsistent, ontologically and politically, given the linkages between misogyny and metal in public and scholarly discourse. Weinstein used sociology to inform public discussion of heavy metal; but given our own epistemology, we thought it would be interesting to analyse heavy metal through a postfeminist lens. Postfeminism contains a set of contradictions: on the one hand it contains claims that feminism is no longer necessary, the battles have been won; on the other, it argues the need for feminism is ever more urgent. These tensions can be explored with reference to postfeminist notions of ‘empowerment’ and we argue that there are similar contradictions in heavy metal. To make this argument, empirically we have explored what is happening on stage and in audiences at festivals and at the intersection between bands and audiences. We use postfeminist theorizing to inform our discussion, as a mechanism to unpack the ways in which heavy metal can be both empowering (sexy) and problematic for women (sexist). Understanding the tensions between and the duality of these positions also enables us to understand predominantly masculine cultures. We argue that where heavy metal is situated as marginal it may provide a site of empowerment where women are liberated from mainstream hegemonic patriarchal structures. In this sense, heavy metal provides a site where patriarchy may be destabilized. Paradoxically, we argue, this site of empowerment may also be limited by masculine definitions of the extent to which gender norms may be subverted.
‘To Holmgard … and Beyond’: Folk metal fantasies and hegemonic white masculinities
Authors: Spracklen Karl
Published: August 2015

On first inspection, the metal music subgenre of folk metal might be arguably residual white, masculine spaces. The subgenres are not fashionable within the metal music scene. Folk metal bands are ridiculed by fans of black metal for being too mainstream and crowd-pleasing, constructing fantasies of drinking and fighting that have no authentic connection to Vikings, Saxons or other (supposed) nationalist patriarchs. But folk metal bands are not part of the mainstream of modern heavy metal, judged by sales of records and numbers of fans on social media. This article draws on new research on folk metal and its reputation within heavy metal, using a range of Internet sources and semiotic analysis of folk metal bands’ songs and images. The bands at the focus of the case study research are bands that have been deliberately selected because they are well-established in the industry, and generally known to fans of heavy metal: Turisas (Finland), Týr (Faroe Islands), Eluveitie (Switzerland), In Extremo (Germany) and Cruachan (Ireland). In this article, I argue that folk metal is not easily dismissed as a fantasy space for young, white European men left behind by postmodernity, postcolonialism and a rearrangement of the gender order. Rather, folk metal remains central to the ongoing construction of heavy metal as a form of commodified leisure that makes the power of western, instrumental whiteness and hegemonic masculinity invisible, while ironically being in plain sight.
Reviews
Authors: Calvo Manuela Belén , Riches Gabby
Published: August 2015

Metal Culture: Papers, Discussions and Exhibitions of the First Metal Music Book Fair of Buenos Aires, Gito Minore et al. (2014) Number 1, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires: Clara Beter Ediciones, 72 pp., ISBN: 9789872829964, p/bk, 90 Argentine Pesos

Melancology: Black Metal Theory and Ecology, Scott Wilson (ed.) (2014) Alresford, UK: Zero Books, 255 pp., ISBN: 9781780991894, p/bk, £12.99
From ‘Barbeque’ to ‘Braai’: contemplating the translation process as Bat Boy – the Musical crosses cultures
Authors: Davel Anitra , Munro Marth , Coetzee Marié-Heleen
Published: August 2015

Savran posits that the genre of the ‘Broadway-style’ musical should be approached from a transnational perspective that ‘emphasizes interconnectedness and the crossborder fluidity of cultures’. South Africa has a long history of importing theatre forms as well as of localizing or ‘transplanting’ American and European playtexts in productions produced on local stages in both pre- and post-apartheid contexts, and the Broadway-style musical proved no exception. The ‘township musical’ used the format of the Broadway-style musical to tell South African stories and became a specific and influential form of hybrid theatre. This article reflects on the directorial process that was followed in order to translate the American source playtext of Bat Boy – the Musical to the South African context, and the playtext was explored within the cross-cultural – and, more specifically, the intercultural – theatrical framework. In order to substantiate the translation, the distinctions between theatrical translation, adaptation and variation were contemplated and the adoption of a twotiered, translation approach was advocated. In the first tier of translation, relevant dynamics in theatrical semiotic processes were used to analyse the playtext of Bat Boy – the Musical, taking cognizance not only of the ideological and aesthetic codes found within the source text but also of the corresponding social and textual codes within the sociocultural domain to which the playtext was translated. The second tier of translation occurred at the level of the mise-en-scène as the multicultural and multilingual cast sourced their diverse, cultural backgrounds and unique social codes as well as South African theatrical codes in order to place the musical in the South African context. Whilst this article endeavours to report on the translation of a musical theatre playtext from one cultural context to another, the motivation behind the project was to contribute to knowledge creation in the field of South African musical theatre by exploring the ways in which the Broadway-style musical articulates within the multicultural and multilingual, post-apartheid South African context.
Book Reviews
Authors: Wells Elizabeth , Adamson Charles D. , Walls Alison
Published: August 2015

Oliver! A Dickensian Musical, Marc Napolitano (2014) New York: Oxford University Press, 304 pp., ISBN: 9780199364824, h/bk, $38.50

Alan Jay Lerner: A Lyricist’s Letters, Dominic McHugh (ed.) (2014) New York: Oxford University Press, 336 pp. ISBN: 9780199949274, h/bk, $35.96

Who Should Sing ‘Ol’ Man River’?: THE LIVE S OF AN AMERICAN Song, Todd Decker (2015) New York: Oxford University Press, 256 pp. ISBN: 9780199389186, h/bk, £19.99/$29.95
Reflections on the Socratic method
Authors: Althof Rachel Smith
Published: August 2015

The term Socratic method is often used in academic circles in a variety of syntactical contexts. This article is a detailed analysis of the historical text Alcibiades, seeking contemporary relevance with an opening anecdotal account of ongoing art critiques with a group of adolescent students. An analysis of the text shows that Socrates’ genius lies in his openness to adapt to the changing landscape of dialogue. In doing so, he and his student, Alcibiades, participate in the process of askesis, or self-cultivation.
Evolutionary relationships of atoposaurid crocodyliforms and evidence for allopatric speciation driving their high diversity in the late jurassic of europe
Authors: Tennant Jon , Mannion Philip
Published: September 2015

Atoposaurid crocodylomorphs represent an important faunal component of Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Laurasian semi-aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems. Despite being consistently recovered at the base of Neosuchia, the major crocodylomorph lineage leading to extant crocodilians, their species-level taxonomy and inter-relationships remain poorly understood. We present a systematic taxonomic review of the group, noting numerous anatomical differences between specimens from geographically discrete localities in the Late Jurassic of western Europe. In particular, we recognise a new species of Alligatorellus from Germany, previously referred to the contemporaneous French taxon Alligatorellus beaumonti, and synonymise the sympatric Alligatorium paintenense with Alligatorium franconicum. A comprehensive species-level phylogenetic analysis of unambiguous atoposaurids (15 OTUs and 450 characters) recovers a clade comprising Alligatorellus, Alligatorium, Atoposaurus, and Montsecosuchus.Theriosuchus is shown to represent a monophyletic, diverse, and long-lived genus that forms the sister taxon to this clade of atoposaurids. The poorly known Theriosuchus grandinaris, from the Early Cretaceous of Thailand, is excluded from this grouping and is instead positioned at the base of Atoposauridae, although this likely reflects its incomplete nature. Incorporation of putative atoposaurids, such as Karatausuchus from the Late Jurassic of Kazakhstan, will be crucial in clarifying these relationships. Our revision of atoposaurids leads us to recognise the existence of three sympatric genera in the Late Jurassic of western Europe, with a distinct species of Alligatorellus, Alligatorium, and Atoposaurus present in both French and German basins. This high diversity of closely related species might have been caused by allopatric speciation, driven by fluctuating highstand sea-levels during an interval when western Europe formed an island archipelago system. It is possible that the small body size of atoposaurids resulted from island dwarfing during this interval, but testing of this idea will have to await the discovery of more basal forms from non-island settings.
Desenvolvimento e nutrição mineral de plantas de gérbera em função da condutividade elétrica
Authors: Mota Poliana Rocha D’Almeida , Fernandes Dirceu Maximino , Ludwig Fernanda , Fernandes Dirceu Maximino
Published: September 2015

The control of substrate salinity is important for agricultural crops and, among the methods used, is the management of electrical conductivity of the substrate solution, which can be used as an indirect measure of the amount of salts and nutrients available or not for the plants. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of EC levels on the development, concentration and accumulation of nutrients in potted (1.3 L) gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii). The study was conducted in a greenhouse in a randomized block design, with five treatments (EC of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 dS m-1) and four replications. The quadratic function of the applied EC was obtained for leaf number and diameter, and the linear function, for inflorescence diameter. The nutrients in plant tissue increased linearly with the increasing level of EC, except for potassium and sulfur. The decreasing order for macronutrient levels was K>N>Ca>P>Mg>S, indicating the importance of potassium. Production parameters were little affected by the concentration of the nutrient solution. Therefore, it can be concluded that, with the increase in nutrients as a function of EC elevation, a luxury uptake can occur, with no representative on qualitative aspects.
Efeito da temperatura e do substrato na germinação de Hamatocactus setispinus (Cactaceae)
Authors: Xavier Priscilla Brites , Jasmim Janie Mendes
Published: September 2015

Cacti are widely used as ornamental plants and seed germination is a major method for preserving genetic diversity. Thus, an experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of different temperatures and substrates on seed germination of Hamatocactus setispinus. Seeds were sown in gerbox boxes containing either germination paper (S1), sand (S2) or vermiculite (S3). After placing the seeds on the substrates, the boxes were kept in germination chambers at 20, 25, 30 and 35° C for 30 days, under a photoperiod of 16 hours. The experiment was in a completely randomized design with four replicates. The speed germination index (SGI), mean germination time (MT) and germination rates (%) were evaluated. The best results were observed at 25º C. The highest SGI (3.94) was observed on seed germination paper, but MT values and germination rates on this substrate did not differ from those obtained on sand. Therefore, both substrates could be used for germination of this cactus species.
Enraizamento de estacas caulinares de ixora
Authors: Silva Aline De Souza , Reges Nívea Patrícia Ribeiro , Melo Jéssica Kelly De , Santos Marcos Paulo Dos , Sousa Cleiton Mateus
Published: September 2015

The ixora is ornamental plant widely used in landscaping. In order to maximize the propagation of cuts, we evaluated the concentrations of auxin (indolbutiric acid) and the presence of leaves on the rooting in cuts of Ixora coccinea L. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design, in factorial design 3x4, with three types of cuts (without leaf, with two or four leaves), four concentrations of indolbutiric acid (0, 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg L-1), with four replications and 10 cuts in each experimental unit. After 53 days of implantation the experiment, evaluated the survival(%), rooting(%), sprouting(%), formation of callus(%), number, length and biomass of roots formed. The interaction of the type of cuts with concentrations of auxin was not significant for any of the variables analyzed. The survival of cuttings was not influenced by the treatments. Cuts with two or four leaves presented rooting and length of roots above the cuttings without leaves. The application of auxin does not substitute the presence of leaf in cuts of ixora in vegetative propagation. The vegetative propagation by cut of ixora can be made without application of auxin, and the leaves must be maintained in the cuttings.
Nutrition and Quality in Ornamental Plants
Authors: Furtini Neto Antonio Eduardo , Boldrin Karina Volpi Furtini , Mattson Neil S.
Published: September 2015

The visual quality of ornamental plants is necessarily linked to an adequate balance of nutrients. Plant height, shape and coloration are qualitative aspects of ornamental species, directly influenced by mineral nutrition, among other environmental aspects. The nutritional requirements of ornamental species are not yet well established, often resulting in inefficient use of chemical and organic fertilizers, without respecting the needs of each species as well as the proper time for application. This leads to the low quality of the final product, as well as high production costs, which justifies the importance of a nutritional knowledge of the species. In addition to plant nutrients, some elements not considered essential, such as silicon, may provide improvements in the quality of certain species, including ornamental plants. In this sense, this paper aims to compile information on the use of nutrients for ornamental species in order to contribute to the knowledge of the principal aspects of plant quality as relates to mineral nutrition.
Performance Measures for Teachers and Teacher Education: Corporate Education Reform Opens the Door to New Legal Issues
Authors: Pullin Diana
Published: August 2015

Recent efforts to change the teaching profession and teacher preparation include a number of innovations to use portfolio assessment, value added measures (VAM), accountability metrics and other corporate education reform ideas.  These approaches may provoke considerable potential legal consequences. Traditional constitutional and civil rights issues will continue to be important considerations. In addition, because education is increasingly seen as a consumer product, new types of legal issues are arising from the way evidence about performance is gathered and used and about the privacy of data. Legal claims more familiar to a business context are being asserted and can be expected to increase. Whistle-blower claims concerning fraud in government-funded programs have been filed, as well as claims of breach of contract and defective products. Finally, criminal prosecutions are being utilized to address systemic cheating in evaluation systems.
ABCB1 (MDR-1) pharmacogenetics of tacrolimus in renal transplanted patients: a Next Generation Sequencing approach
Authors: Tavira Beatriz , Gómez Juan , Diaz-Corte Carmen , Suarez Beatriz , Coronel Diego , Arias Manuel , López-Larrea Carlos , Iglesias Sara , Alonso Belén , Rodrigo Emilio , Coto Eliecer
Published: September 2015

A

We studied 100 renal transplanted patients treated with Tac, 60 of whom had Tac blood levels below (n=39) and above (n=21) the target range (10–15 ng/mL) at 1 week post-transplant. The DNA was subjected to multiplex amplification followed by massive parallel semiconductor sequencing in the Ion Torrent personal genome machine.

We found four missense changes, all reported and present in cases above and below the blood Tac target. In addition, we did not find differences in the allele and genotype frequencies for the common rs1045642 polymorphism (p.I1145I) between the groups.

Our results suggested that the
From “finite” to “narrative” – The enclitic marker =a in Kherwarian (North Munda) and Sadri (Indo-Aryan)
Authors: Peterson John
Published: September 2015

This study deals with what we refer to here as the “narrative marker” =a in Sadri, the traditional Indo-Aryan lingua franca of western and central Jharkhand in eastern-central India. We argue that this marker in Sadri is the result of the reanalysis of an inherited focus marker which originally attached to the present tense in Sadri and that this reanalysis was influenced by speakers of Kherwarian languages using Sadri as a lingua franca, as the distribution of this marker in Sadri closely resembles that of the homophonous finite marker in Kherwarian. Finally, we show how this feature contributes to further define a micro-linguistic area centered on western-central Jharkhand.
Venice: Rising Water or Sinking Land?
Authors: Parker A. , Ollier C.D.
Published: September 2015

The recent paper by Bellfiore, Ghezzo, Tagliapietra and Umgiesser [1] gives us the opportunity to discuss the relative sea level rise in Venice (Venezia). They accept that the Venetian sea level rise will be part of a global rise caused by ocean thermal expansion and melting of icecaps caused in turn by global warming induced by anthropogenic carbon dioxide production. In reality the sea levels have been only oscillating during the last few decades. Theworldwide average sea level rise is free of any acceleration. This is also true for theVenice and Trieste tide gauges. The sea level records of Venice and Trieste are very different, and it is impossible for two places so close together to have such differences from a common rise in sea level. Venice is sinking relative to Trieste.
Introduction to Linguistic Steganography
Authors: Khan Majid , Shahab Ali , Asghar Zeeshan
Published: September 2015

The specialty of data covering up has gotten much consideration in the late years as security of data has turn into a major concern in this web time. As sharing of delicate data by means of a typical correspondence station has get to be unavoidable, Steganography – the workmanship and art of concealing data has increased much consideration. We are likewise encompassed by a universe of mystery correspondence, where individuals of numerous types are transmitting data as guiltless as an encoded Visa number to an online store than and as deceptive as a terrorist plot to robbers. Steganography is derived from two Greek words, steganos, meaning covered or secret, and graphia, meaning writing. In simple terms, steganography is the art and science of hiding information in plain sight. Steganography is an innovation where advanced information pressure, data hypothesis, spread range, and cryptography innovations are united to fulfill the requirement for security on the Internet. This paper is an endeavor to examine the different methods utilized as a part of steganography and to recognize zones in which this method can be connected, so that humanity can be profited massively.
Chloride Cotransporters as a Molecular Mechanism underlying Spreading Depolarization-Induced Dendritic Beading
Authors: Steffensen Annette B. , Sword Jeremy , Croom Deborah , Kirov Sergei A. , MacAulay Nanna
Published: September 2015

Spreading depolarizations (SDs) are waves of sustained neuronal and glial depolarization that propagate massive disruptions of ion gradients through the brain. SD is associated with migraine aura and recently recognized as a novel mechanism of injury in stroke and brain trauma patients. SD leads to neuronal swelling as assessed in real time with two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM). Pyramidal neurons do not express aquaporins and thus display low inherent water permeability, yet SD rapidly induces focal swelling (beading) along the dendritic shaft by unidentified molecular mechanisms. To address this issue, we induced SD in murine hippocampal slices by focal KCl microinjection and visualized the ensuing beading of dendrites expressing EGFP by 2PLSM. We confirmed that dendritic beading failed to arise during large (100 mOsm) hyposmotic challenges, underscoring that neuronal swelling does not occur as a simple osmotic event. SD-induced dendritic beading was not prevented by pharmacological interference with the cytoskeleton, supporting the notion that dendritic beading may result entirely from excessive water influx. Dendritic beading was strictly dependent on the presence of Cl−, and, accordingly, combined blockade of Cl−-coupled transporters led to a significant reduction in dendritic beading without interfering with SD. Furthermore, ourin vivodata showed a strong inhibition of dendritic beading during pharmacological blockage of these cotransporters. We propose that SD-induced dendritic beading takes place as a consequence of the altered driving forces and thus activity for these cotransporters, which by transport of water during their translocation mechanism may generate dendritic beading independently of osmotic forces.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSpreading depolarization occurs during pathological conditions such as stroke, brain injury, and migraine and is characterized as a wave of massive ion translocation between intracellular and extracellular space in association with recurrent transient focal swelling (beading) of dendrites. Numerous ion channels have been demonstrated to be involved in generation and propagation of spreading depolarization, but the molecular machinery responsible for the dendritic beading has remained elusive. Using real-timein vitroandin vivotwo-photon laser scanning microscopy, we have identified the transport mechanisms involved in the detrimental focal swelling of dendrites. These findings have clear clinical significance because they may point to a new class of pharmacological targets for prevention of neuronal swelling that consequently will serve as neuroprotective agents.
Inflammatory Pain Promotes Increased Opioid Self-Administration: Role of Dysregulated Ventral Tegmental Area μ Opioid Receptors
Authors: Hipólito Lucia , Wilson-Poe Adrianne , Campos-Jurado Yolanda , Zhong Elaine , Gonzalez-Romero Jose , Virag Laszlo , Whittington Robert , Comer Sandra D. , Carlton Susan M. , Walker Brendan M. , Bruchas Michael R. , Morón Jose A.
Published: September 2015

Pain management in opioid abusers engenders ethical and practical difficulties for clinicians, often resulting in pain mismanagement. Although chronic opioid administration may alter pain states, the presence of pain itself may alter the propensity to self-administer opioids, and previous history of drug abuse comorbid with chronic pain promotes higher rates of opioid misuse. Here, we tested the hypothesis that inflammatory pain leads to increased heroin self-administration resulting from altered mu opioid receptor (MOR) regulation of mesolimbic dopamine (DA) transmission. To this end, the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) model of inflammation was used to assess the neurochemical and functional changes induced by inflammatory pain on MOR-mediated mesolimbic DA transmission and on rat intravenous heroin self-administration under fixed ratio (FR) and progressive ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement. In the presence of inflammatory pain, heroin intake under an FR schedule was increased for high, but attenuated for low, heroin doses with concomitant alterations in mesolimbic MOR function suggested by DA microdialysis. Consistent with the reduction in low dose FR heroin self-administration, inflammatory pain reduced motivation for a low dose of heroin, as measured by responding under a PR schedule of reinforcement, an effect dissociable from high heroin dose PR responding. Together, these results identify a connection between inflammatory pain and loss of MOR function in the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway that increases intake of high doses of heroin. These findings suggest that pain-induced loss of MOR function in the mesolimbic pathway may promote opioid dose escalation and contribute to opioid abuse-associated phenotypes.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThis study provides critical new insights that show that inflammatory pain alters heroin intake through a desensitization of MORs located within the VTA. These findings expand our knowledge of the interactions between inflammatory pain and opioid abuse liability, and should help to facilitate the development of novel and safer opioid-based strategies for treating chronic pain.
Oxytocin Regulates Stress-InducedCrfGene Transcription through CREB-Regulated Transcription Coactivator 3
Authors: Jurek Benjamin , Slattery David A. , Hiraoka Yuichi , Liu Ying , Nishimori Katsuhiko , Aguilera Greti , Neumann Inga D. , van den Burg Erwin H.
Published: September 2015

The major regulator of the neuroendocrine stress response in the brain is corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), whose transcription is controlled by CREB and its cofactors CRTC2/3 (TORC2/3). Phosphorylated CRTCs are sequestered in the cytoplasm, but rapidly dephosphorylated and translocated into the nucleus following a stressful stimulus. As the stress response is attenuated by oxytocin (OT), we tested whether OT interferes with CRTC translocation and, thereby,Crfexpression. OT (1 nmol, i.c.v.) delayed the stress-induced increase of nuclear CRTC3 andCrfhnRNA levels in the paraventricular nucleus of male rats and mice, but did not affect either parameter in the absence of the stressor. The increase inCrfhnRNA levels at later time points was parallel to elevated nuclear CRTC2/3 levels. A direct effect of Thr4Gly7-OT (TGOT) on CRTC3 translocation andCrfexpression was found in rat primary hypothalamic neurons, amygdaloid (Ar-5), hypothalamic (H32), and human neuroblastoma (Be(2)M17) cell lines. CRTC3, but not CRCT2, knockdown using siRNA in Be(2)M17 cells prevented the effect of TGOT onCrfhnRNA levels. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that TGOT reduced CRTC3, but not CRTC2, binding to theCrfpromoter after 10 min of forskolin stimulation. Together, the results indicate that OT modulates CRTC3 translocation, the binding of CRTC3 to theCrfpromoter and, ultimately, transcription of theCrfgene.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe neuropeptide oxytocin has been proposed to reduce hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation during stress. The underlying mechanisms are, however, elusive. In this study we show that activation of the oxytocin receptor in the paraventricular nucleus delays transcription of the gene encoding corticotropin releasing factor (Crf), the main regulator of the stress response. It does so by sequestering the coactivator of the transcription factor CREB, CRTC3, in the cytosol, resulting in reduced binding of CRTC3 to theCrfgene promoter and subsequentCrfgene expression. This novel oxytocin receptor-mediated intracellular mechanism might provide a basis for the treatment of exaggerated stress responses in the future.
Incubation of Fear Is Regulated by TIP39 Peptide Signaling in the Medial Nucleus of the Amygdala
Authors: Tsuda Mumeko C. , Yeung Ho-Man , Kuo Jonathan , Usdin Ted B.
Published: September 2015

Fear-related psychopathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder are characterized by impaired extinction of fearful memories. Recent behavioral evidence suggests that the neuropeptide tuberoinfundibular peptide of 39 residues (TIP39), via its receptor, the parathyroid hormone 2 receptor (PTH2R), modulates fear memory. Here we examined the anatomical and cellular localization of TIP39 signaling that contributes to the increase in fear memory over time following a traumatic event, called fear memory incubation. Contextual freezing, a behavioral sign of fear memory, was significantly greater in PTH2R knock-out than wild-type male mice 2 and 4 weeks after a 2 s 1.5 mA footshock. PTH2R knock-out mice had significantly reduced c-Fos activation in the medial amygdala (MeA) following both footshock and fear recall, but had normal activation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and the amygdalar central nucleus compared with wild-type. We therefore investigated the contribution of MeA TIP39 signaling to fear incubation. Similar to the effect of global TIP39 signaling loss, blockade of TIP39 signaling in the MeA by lentivirus-mediated expression of a secreted PTH2R antagonist augmented fear incubation. Ablation of MeA PTH2R-expressing neurons also strengthened the fear incubation effect. Using the designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drug pharmacogenetic approach, transient inhibition of MeA PTH2R-expressing neurons before or immediately after the footshock, but not at the time of fear recall, enhanced fear incubation. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that TIP39 signaling within the MeA at the time of an aversive event regulates the increase over time in fear associated with the event context.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTFear-related psychopathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are characterized by excessive responses to trauma-associated cues. Fear responses can increase over time without additional cue exposure or stress. This work shows that modulatory processes within the medial nucleus of the amygdala near the time of a traumatic event influence the strength of fear responses that occur much later. The modulatory processes include signaling by the neuropeptide TIP39 and neurons that express its receptor. These findings will help in the understanding of why traumatic events sometimes have severe psychological consequences. One implication is that targeting neuromodulation in the medial amygdala could potentially help prevent development of PTSD.
Inactivation of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor Type Z by Pleiotrophin Promotes Remyelination through Activation of Differentiation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells
Authors: Kuboyama Kazuya , Fujikawa Akihiro , Suzuki Ryoko , Noda Masaharu
Published: September 2015

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurological disorder associated with myelin destruction and neurodegeneration. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) present in demyelinated lesions gradually fail to differentiate properly, so remyelination becomes incomplete. Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z (PTPRZ), one of the most abundant protein tyrosine phosphatases expressed in OPCs, is known to suppress oligodendrocyte differentiation and maintain their precursor cell stage. In the present study, we examined thein vivomechanisms for remyelination using a cuprizone-induced demyelination model.Ptprz-deficient and wild-type mice both exhibited severe demyelination and axonal damage in the corpus callosum after cuprizone feeding. The similar accumulation of OPCs was observed in the lesioned area in both mice; however, remyelination was significantly accelerated inPtprz-deficient mice after the removal of cuprizone. After demyelination, the expression of pleiotrophin (PTN), an inhibitory ligand for PTPRZ, was transiently increased in mouse brains, particularly in the neurons involved, suggesting its role in promoting remyelination by inactivating PTPRZ activity. In support of this view, oligodendrocyte differentiation was augmented in a primary culture of oligodendrocyte-lineage cells from wild-type mice in response to PTN. In contrast, these cells fromPtprz-deficient mice showed higher oligodendrocyte differentiation without PTN and differentiation was not enhanced by its addition. We further demonstrated that PTN treatment increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of p190 RhoGAP, a PTPRZ substrate, using an established line of OPCs. Therefore, PTPRZ inactivation in OPCs by PTN, which is secreted from demyelinated axons, may be the mechanism responsible for oligodendrocyte differentiation during reparative remyelination in the CNS.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the CNS that destroys myelin, the insulation that surrounds axons. Associated damages to oligodendrocytes (the cells that produce myelin) and nerve fibers produce neurological disability. Most patients with MS have an initial relapsing-remitting course for 5–15 years. Remyelination during the early stages of the disease process has been documented; however, the molecular mechanism underlying remyelination has not been understood. Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z (PTPRZ) is a receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase preferentially expressed in the CNS. This study shows that pleiotrophin, an inhibitory ligand for PTPRZ, is transiently expressed and released from demyelinated neurons to inactivate PTPRZ in oligodendrocyte precursor cells present in the lesioned part, thereby allowing their differentiation for remyelination.