bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leadership Educator Journeys: Expandinga Model of Leadership Educator Professional Identity Development
Authors: Seemiller Corey , Priest KerryL.
Published: April 2017

There is a great deal of literature on leadership education best-practices (e.g., curricular considerations, teaching strategies, assessment of learning). Yet, to be a leadership educator is more than having knowledge or expertise of content and pedagogy. Perceptions, experiences, and values of leadership educators comprise a professional identity that is reflective of not only what leadership educators do, but also who they are and how they view themselves within the profession. This qualitative study builds on Seemiller and Priest’s (2015) Leadership Educator Professional Identity Development (LEPID) conceptual model by analyzing stories from participants of a professional leadership educator development experience. Leadership educators’ identity development reflected a consistent and linear progression through the identity spaces outlined in the LEPID model, and further can be viewed through three distinct dimensional lenses (experiential, cognitive, and emotional experiences). Additionally, leadership educator identities were shaped by a particular set of ongoing influences and critical incidents; the most prevalent incident was related to feelings of inadequacy in leadership expertise and competence. Findings from this study can inform educational programs and professional associations in efforts to train and develop leadership educators.
Designing Academic Leadership Minor Programs: Emerging Models
Authors: Diallo Lamine , Gerhardt Kris
Published: April 2017

With a growing number of leadership programs in universities and colleges in North America, leadership educators and researchers are engaged in a wide ranging dialogue to propose clear processes, content, and designs for providing academic leadership education. This research analyzes the curriculum design of 52 institutions offering a “Minor in Leadership” (13 institutions) or a “Minor in Leadership Studies” (39 institutions) in the United States to evaluate their commonalities and differences using the Brungardt, Greenleaf, Brungardt, and Arensdorf (2006) courses classification model. The results show a large variety of curricular designs with emerging trends. While we recognize the need for flexibility and innovation in program design, in this paper we also argue for greater harmonization of academic leadership program designs.
Undergraduate Sport Management Students’ Perceptions of Leadership Skills Through Service Learning
Authors: Romsa Bryan , Romsa Katelyn , Lim Jon , Wurdinger Scott
Published: April 2017

Researchers have discovered that service learning affects students’ academic, personal, and social development. However, currently there is a gap in literature analyzing ways in which service learning affects students’ perceived leadership skills. This study examined the effectiveness of service learning on the perceived leadership skills of 74 sport management undergraduate students at a mid-sized, Midwestern, public university using Kouzes’ and Posner’s Student Leadership Practices Inventory instrument, which examines leadership practices in five areas: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. The results of this study may help faculty members and administrators to better understand the potential of utilizing service learning projects in their classrooms as a vehicle for their students to develop quality leadership practices. Recommendations for further research and practice are also discussed.
An investigation of the suitability of a Servant Leadership model for academic Group Leaders at German universities
Authors: Moll Jochen , Kretzschmar Louise
Published: April 2017

Due to the many changes that have occurred over the last two decades, especially in connection with the ‘new managerialism’, academia is a complex working environment. Multiple skills are demanded from professors, such as acting as entrepreneurs and mentors with designated leadership competences. This paper investigates the leadership role of academic group leaders in the context of higher education in Germany. It is argued that a servant leadership approach can enable professors to provide effective academic leadership in the current university context. This is due to its strong human orientation and low power distance and its focus on facilitating academic excellence, creativity and innovation. The discussion notes the importance of developing academic group leaders and describes some practical means of implementing servant leadership in higher education.
A Special Vehicle Routing Problem Arising in the Optimization of Waste Disposal: A Real Case
Authors: Aringhieri Roberto , Bruglieri Maurizio , Malucelli Federico , Nonato Maddalena
Published: April 2017

We address a particular pickup and delivery vehicle routing problem arising in the collection and disposal of bulky recyclable waste. Containers of different types, used to collect different waste materials, once full, must be picked up to be emptied at suitable disposal plants and replaced by empty containers alike. All requests must be served, and routes are subject to a maximum duration constraint. Minimizing the number of vehicles is the main objective, while minimizing the total route duration is a secondary objective. The problem belongs to the class of rollon–rolloff vehicle routing problems (RR-VRPs), though some characteristics of the case study, such as the free circulation of containers and the limited availability of spare containers, allow us to exploit them in the solution approach. We formalize the problem as a special vehicle routing problem on a bipartite graph, we analyze its structure, and we compare it to similar problems emphasizing the impact of limited spare containers. Moreover, we propose a neighborhood-based metaheuristic that alternatively switches from one objective to the other along the search path and periodically destroys and rebuilds parts of the solution. The main algorithm components are experimentally evaluated on real and realistic instances, the largest of which fail to be solved by a mixed-integer linear programming solver. We are increasingly competitive with the solver as the instance size increases, especially regarding fleet size. In addition, the algorithm is applied to the benchmark instances for the RR-VRP.
Complementary and alternative medicine in systemic arterial hypertension
Authors: Mantovani Maria de Fátima , Hereibi Mireille Janczyk , Arthur Juliana Perez , Mattei Ângela Taís , Madureira Alexandra Bittencourt , Ferraz Maria Isabel Raimondo
Published: April 2017

Objective:

The objective was to identify the types of complementary and alternative medicine used by patients with hypertension and factors related to their use.

Methods:

This is an integrative review of literature. Articles published between 2011 and 2015 were selected. The search was performed on the CAPES/MEC electronic database, and the descriptors used were: hypertension, complementary therapies, complementary remedies, flower essences, color therapy, aromatherapy, phytotherapy, chinese herbal drugs and massage.

Results:

In total, 343 articles were found and 6 were selected. The most frequent therapy found was phytotherapy, mainly in decoction and tea. Mostly women and married people used complementary therapies. The main related factors were conventional treatment side-effects, hope to treat the cause of the disease, and faith of cure.

Conclusion:

Health professionals need to know the types of therapies, their benefits, interactions and side-effects in order to guide their patients. These therapies, if complementary and properly used, can help to control blood pressure.
Reflections of Research
Authors: Morris Paul
Published: April 2017

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) annual image competition, Reflections of Research, provides a glimpse into the cutting-edge research that the BHF funds
Displaying public health messages on posters is no longer the only option
Authors: Cliffe Jonathan
Published: April 2017

Public Health England (2017) recently published the report ‘Digital-first public health’. It outlines a strategy to make best use of digital innovations to meet the needs of the population and fulfil PHE's remit to protect and promote health and reduce inequalities
How can universities ‘ASSIST’ student midwives with additional needs to achieve?
Authors: Power Alison , Murray Jonathan
Published: April 2017

Previous articles have discussed how pre-registration midwifery education should prepare student midwives ‘to cope with the complex emotional and physical demands of their chosen profession’ ( Power, 2016:66 ); acknowledged the importance of a partnership approach to education through the ‘Clinicians in the Classroom’ series ( Power, 2016 ; Power and Briody, 2016 ; Power and Gupta, 2016 ; Power and Rea, 2016 ; Power and Rooth, 2016 ) and considered how best to support student midwives with appropriate learning and teaching strategies (Power and Farmer, 2017). What is yet to be considered is what extra support is available to students who have additional needs, disabilities or medical conditions that might impact on their studies. This article will take the University of Northampton as a case study and review the support services it has in place to support such students to meet their full potential. This service is called The Additional Student Support and Inclusion Services Team (ASSIST).
Juggling and prioritising
Authors: Stone Heidi
Published: April 2017

Heidi Stone, winner of last year's BJM Student of the Year award, reflects on the highs and lows of her preceptorship and her plans for the future.
Sintomas de deficiências de macronutrientes em melancieira
Authors: Correia Costa Leonardo , Vergara Carmona Victor Manuel , Bernardes Cecílio Filho Arthur , Seno Nascimento Camila , Seno Nascimento Carolina
Published: April 2017

Improper handling of lime and fertilizer can trigger nutritional disorders. This study aimed at describing and depicting the evolution of the symptoms of nutrient deficiencies in watermelon when induced in the fruiting stage, and determining the leaf content in the organ and at the time the symptom was visualized. The experiment was in hydroponics. The symptoms of N and Ca deficiencies were the first to be observed. Nitrogen deficiency caused cessation of growth, inhibition of lateral rods, general chlorosis and necrosis in older leaves. Symptoms of P deficiency first appeared in old leaves with chlorotic and wrinkled areas, which later progressed to necrosis. K deficiency caused marginal chlorosis in older leaves, progressing to the entire limb and evolving to necrosis. With calcium deficiency, the new leaves were deformed, with marginal chlorosis and necrosis, curved edges down, thick leaf blade, wrinkled and necrosis in meristems. The Mg omission initially caused symptoms of internerval chlorosis in old leaves, progressing to off-white and necrotic tissues. The levels of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in the leaf and on the occasion of deficiency were 9.7; 1.4; 7.1; 1.8 to 1.8 g kg-1, respectively.
Potencial ornamental de espécies do Bioma Caatinga
Authors: Beckmann Cavalcante Markilla Zunete , Dultra Daniel Fagner da Silva , Silva Handerson Leandro da Costa , Cotting Jarina Coelho , Silva Sheila Daniella Pereira da , Siqueira Filho José Alves de
Published: April 2017

The reduction or replacement of exotic ornamental plants by native species with ornamental potential is a current trend of landscaping. The insertion in the productive chain of flowers and ornamental plants and availability for commercialization represents a differential in a highly competitive market, attentive to novelties and tending to adopt products of reduced environmental impact besides promoting ex situ conservation. In this sense, the objective was to prospect species of the native flora of the Caatinga Biome that occur in the Valley of the Submédio São Francisco that present aesthetic elements appropriate for use in the landscaping. Incursions were made in the field to identify the species and were described the habit of growth, shape, symmetry, structure, texture and color of structures of higher ornamental value, fragrance, the presence of spines or not with indication of the possibilities of use. A total of 43 species were reported, distributed among herbaceous habit (21), bush habit (11), arboreal trees (9), both one climbing and hardy liana. Among the species indicated, 30.2% belong to the Fabaceae family. The flora of the Caatinga presents species with high ornamental potential for diverse uses and landscape effects. There is a need to stimulate the use of native species of the Caatinga Biome in landscaping projects, whose potential is still little valued.
Avaliação macro e microscópica do trato digestório de frangos de corte alimentados com dieta contendo glicerina
Authors: Sousa Denise Cerqueira , Oliveira Nadja Lamonye Alves , Santos Edna Teles dos , Dourado Leilane Rocha Barros , Ferreira Guilherme José Bolzani de Campos
Published: April 2017

This study aimed to evaluate the presence of morphological changes in the digestive tract of broilers fed diets containing 7% glycerol. It was used 16 animals from male Cobb 500® line, distributed in a completely randomized design in two treatments: animals fed diet without glycerin and animals fed diets containing 7% glycerol. It was observed that the addition of glycerin at 7% in the diet of broilers promotes the occurrence of significant inflammatory infiltrates in the proventriculus, caecum and colon of such animals, macroscopically the addition of glycerin in the diet did not cause any significant difference, but these differences had no significant effect on zootechnical development of such animals. It is possible to conclude that the use of glycerin in the diet can cause localized inflammatory processes, due to its alcoholic feature that degrades the protective mucus barrier and it presents passive absorption and exposes the mucus epithelium to the gastric juice action, thus promoting the mucosa inflammatory process. In the large intestine (cecum and colon) the inflammatory response showed greater intensity as a function of these organs have higher lymphatic tissue (nodular and diffuse)concentration and at this portion the intestine performs the fluids reabsorption directly competing with glycerin which is highly hygroscopic.
Microwave Moisture Measurement of Cotton Fiber Moisture Content in the Laboratory
Authors: Rodgers James , Zumba Jimmy , Delhom Christopher
Published: April 2017

The moisture content of cotton fiber is an important fiber property, but is often measured by a laborious, time-consuming, laboratory oven-drying method. The ability of a laboratory microwave moisture measurement instrument to perform rapid, precise, and accurate fiber moisture measurements was studied. The microwave instrument was calibrated versus two significantly different oven-drying methods. The agreement between the two oven-drying methods was very good, with low residuals observed. The precision of the microwave moisture content measurements was very high, approaching 0.1% moisture. The impact of sample fiber weight was minor, and instrument stability and long-term repeatability were excellent. Microwave cotton fiber moisture content measurement was shown to be viable and applicable for quality control use.
Hydrogenation of levulinic acid using Ru-containing catalysts based on hypercrosslinked polystyrene
Authors: Protsenko Igor I. , Nikoshvili Linda Zh. , Bykov Alexey V. , Matveeva Valentina G. , Sulman Alexandrina , Sulman Esther M. , Rebrov Evgeny V.
Published: April 2017

This work is devoted to the investigation of the possibility of the use of Ru-containing catalysts on the basis of polymeric matrix of hypercrosslinked polystyrene (HPS) in the hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to gamma-valerolactone (GVL). HPS-based Ru-containing catalysts were synthesized at variation of HPS type (MN100 bearing amino groups or MN270 without functional groups) and metal content. Catalyst 5%-Ru/MN100 was shown to compete with commercial 5%-Ru/C and to allow carrying out the hydrogenation of LA in aqueous medium with high yields of GVL (more than 99%).
Effect of conditioning history on the characterization of hardness of thermo-mechanical densified and heat treated poplar wood
Authors: Li Tao , Cai Jia-bin , Avramidis Stavros , Cheng Da-li , Wålinder Magnus E.P. , Zhou Ding-guo
Published: April 2017

Poplar wood was modified by a combination of thermo-mechanical densification (TMD) and heat treatment (HT) process at five temperatures ranging from 170 to 210°C. A new two-step conditioning method (CM) is suggested, in the course of which the modified wood is submitted to 50°C/99% RH→25°C/65% RH, where RH means relative humidity in the climate chamber. The traditional one-step CM (25°C/65% RH) served as reference. The effects of conditioning history on hardness were observed and analyzed along with the change of dimensional stability. The hardness of the modified wood was lower in the case of the proposed CM due to more set-recovery release, but the extent of that decreased with the HT temperature. For a good hardness, HT200°C should be selected with the proposed CM, which is different from the optimization output of 180°C obtained from the traditional CM. In conclusion, a specific assessment method for the performance characterization of this type of modified wood would be beneficial for the combined TMD and HT processes.
Das Nationaldenkmal als Projektionsfläche. Eine großdeutsche Geschichtsidee von der Romantik bis zur Wiedervereinigung
Authors: Bouwers Eveline G.
Published: April 2017

Während Ludwig I. von Bayern bei der Eröffnung der Walhalla 1842 die Hoffnung aussprach, „daß teutscher der Teutsche aus ihr trete, besser, als er gekommen [ist]“, beschrieb der Schriftsteller Karl Gutzkow dasselbe Denkmal als „Privatkapelle eines Einzelnen“ und erkannte ihm entsprechend eine öffentliche Auswirkung ab. Wie es zu diesen unterschiedlichen Bewertungen der Walhalla kam und in welcher Beziehung die wachsende Büstensammlung zu den sich verändernden Deutschlandbildern stand, wird in diesem Aufsatz analysiert. Mithilfe einer Langzeitperspektive – markiert durch den Niedergang der Monarchie, das Ende der NS-Zeit und die Wiedervereinigung – wird gezeigt, dass die Walhalla zwar immer wieder als „Nationaldenkmal“ apostrophiert wurde, doch oft für eine Vorstellung von der deutschen Nation stand, die schon aufgrund der Vielfalt vorhandener nationaler Ideen weder durchsetzbar noch mehrheitsfähig sein konnte. Nicht nur der wiederholte Bezug auf das christlich-katholische Abendland, auf die großdeutsche Idee mit Bayern im Zentrum und auf Männer, sondern auch das symbolische Ausblenden wichtiger Ereignisse der deutschen Geschichte wie die Reformation und der Holocaust schuf eine Kluft zwischen den erinnerten und sonstigen öffentlichen Nationsverständnissen. Tatsächlich wurde die in der Walhalla dargestellte Geschichtsidee von Ludwig und von denjenigen, die nach seinem Tod über die Aufnahme neuer Büsten verfügten, etwa dem bayerischen Staatsrat, der Reichskanzlei und dem Staatsministerium, vereinnahmt. Indem der Aufsatz anhand einer Analyse der Büstensammlung vor dem Hintergrund ihres gesellschaftspolitischen Umfelds die insgesamt periphere Stellung der Walhalla in der deutschen Denkmallandschaft aufzeigt, stellt er zugleich den Ertrag des Begriffs „Nationaldenkmal“ für Erinnerungskulturen, die von partikularen Interessen und einzelnen Akteuren geprägt werden, infrage.
Deutsch-deutscher Gegensatz am Volta. Kwame Nkrumahs Ghana aus der Sicht der Bundesrepublik
Authors: Landricina Matteo
Published: April 2017

Die Beziehungen der beiden deutschen Staaten zu Ghana unter der Herrschaft von Kwame Nkrumah von der Unabhängigkeit Ghanas 1957 bis zum Regimewechsel 1966, die in der Literatur als Musterbeispiel dafür zitiert werden, wie sehr der innerdeutsche Konflikt und die Hallstein-Doktrin das Verhältnis zu den blockfreien Entwicklungsländern bis 1972 prägten, sind bislang hauptsächlich aus der Sicht der DDR betrachtet worden, die in Ghana einen Schwerpunkt ihrer Politik in der Dritten Welt hatte und seit 1959 hier eine Handelsvertretung unterhielt. Wird der Fall aus westdeutscher Perspektive analysiert, erkennt man, dass, solange Ghana in den ersten Jahren der Unabhängigkeit ein westlich orientiertes Land blieb, sich die politisch-wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen zur Bundesrepublik nur schleppend fortentwickelten, da Bonn die britische Vormachtstellung nicht herausfordern wollte. Als seit Ende der 1950er Jahre die bundesdeutsche Präsenz sich im antikommunistischen Sinn erweitern durfte, fuhr diese dann hauptsächlich im US-amerikanischen Fahrwasser. Zwar konnte die Bundesrepublik zuweilen von Washingtons Einfluss profitieren, wurde aber deswegen von Ghanas Regierung als integraler Bestandteil der Westblocks wahrgenommen und musste in Phasen der allgemeinen antiwestlichen Stimmung oft harsche mediale und politische Angriffe über sich ergehen lassen, die von der DDR angeheizt wurden. Erst in den letzten zwei Jahren des Nkrumah-Regimes, nach dem Eklat wegen der Eröffnung der ghanaischen Handels- und Wirtschaftsmission in Ostberlin, entwickelte Bonns Diplomatie eine gewisse Eigeninitiative, mit der sie versuchte, dem Erpressungspotential der engen Beziehungen zwischen Accra und Pankow entgegenzuwirken. Die Gefahr einer Aufwertung der DDR-Vertretung wurde jedoch erst mit dem Fall Nkrumahs endgültig gebannt, bis schließlich 1972 die Hallstein-Ära zu Ende ging und Accra die Beziehungen zu Ostberlin normalisieren konnte.
Identification and Classification of Three Iranian Rice Varieties in Mixed Bulks Using Image Processing and MLP Neural Network
Authors: Fayyazi Saeideh , Abbaspour-Fard Mohammad Hossein , Rohani Abbas , Monadjemi S. Amirhassan , Sadrnia Hassan
Published: April 2017

Due to variation in economic value of different varieties of rice, reports indicating the possibility of mixing different varieties on the market. Applying machine vision techniques to classify rice varieties is a method which can increase the accuracy of classification process in real applications. In this study, several morphological and textural features of rice seeds’ images were examined to evaluate their efficacy in identification of three Iranian rice varieties (Tarom, Fajr, Shiroodi) in their mixed samples. On the whole, 666 images of rice seeds (222 images of each variety) were acquired at a stable illumination condition and totally, 17 morphological and 41 textural features were extracted from seeds images. Principal component analysis (PCA) method was employed to select and rank the most significant features for the classification. Subsequently, the MLP neural network classifier was employed for classification of rice varieties in the mixed bulks of three and two varieties, using top selected features. The network was three-layered feed forward type and trained using two training algorithms (BB and BDLRF). The classification accuracy of 55.93, 84.62 and 82.86 % for Fajr, Tarom and Shiroodi, 86.96 and 93.02 % for Fajr and Shiroodi, 86.84 and 96.08 % for Tarom and Shiroodi and 91.49 and 95.24 % for Fajr and Tarom were obtained in test phase, respectively.
Observing slope stability changes on the basis of tilt and hydrologic measurements
Authors: Mentes Gy.
Published: April 2017

In Hungary, the high loess bank of the River Danube in Dunaszekcső has been moving with varying rate since 2007. On the high bank a geodetic monitoring network was established in September 2007. At the same time two borehole tiltmeters and later two ground water level sensors were also installed. The high-sensitive tiltmeters made it possible to study the relationships between the small tilts of the high bank and the ground water levels and the water level of the River Danube. Results of the multiple regression analysis between tilt components and water levels showed that the temporal variation of the regression coefficients is in close connection with the stability of the high bank. The investigations also showed that the movements are in very strong connection with the variation of the ground water level and less depend on the variation of the water level of the River Danube. The characteristic tilt processes, 3–4 weeks before large movements, and the slope stability changes inferred from the relationships between tilts and water level variations can be useful for early warning of landslides.
Phellinus rimosus improves mitochondrial energy status and attenuates nephrotoxicity in diabetic rats
Authors: Rony K.A. , Ajith T.A. , Kuttikadan Tony A. , Blaze R. , Janardhanan K.K.
Published: April 2017

Background:

Mitochondrial dysfunction and increase in reactive oxygen species during diabetes can lead to pathological consequences in kidneys. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of Phellinus rimosus in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat renal mitochondria and the possible mechanism of protection.

Methods:

Phellinus rimosus (50 and 250 mg/kg, p.o) was treated after inducing diabetes by STZ (45 mg/kg, i.p) in rats. The serum samples were subjected to creatinine and urea estimation. Mitochondrial antioxidant status such as mitochondrial superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione; adenosine triphosphate level; and lipid peroxidation were measured. The activities of Krebs cycle enzymes such as isocitrate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase as well as mitochondrial complexes I, III, and IV in kidney mitochondria were also determined.

Results:

Administration of P. rimosus (250 mg/kg b.wt) once daily for 30 days, significantly (p<0.05) enhanced the activities of Krebs cycle dehydrogenases, mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes, and ATP level. Further, P. rimosus had significantly protected the renal mitochondrial antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation.

Conclusions:

The results of the study concluded that by limiting the extent of renal mitochondrial damage in the hyperglycemic state, P. rimosus alleviated nephrotoxicity.
Crystal structure of catena-poly[μ2-2,2′-(1,3-phenylene)diacetato-κ4
O,O′:O′′,O′′′)-(μ2-1,6-bis(2-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)hexane-κ2
N:N′)cadmium(II)], C32H34CdN4O4
Authors: Liu Lu , Xu Chunying , Gao Huiling , Zhang Yuping
Published: April 2017

C32H34CdN4O4, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 10.120(2) Å, b = 12.223(2) Å, c = 13.403(3) Å, α = 105.70(3)°, β = 98.41(3)°, γ = 108.04(3)°, V = 1468.9(7) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0625, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1721, T = 293(2) K.
Crystal structure of ethyl 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4 carboxylate, C12H12ClN3O2
Authors: Brito Iván , Kesternich Victor , Pérez-Fehrmann Marcia , Bugueño Andrea , Araneda Catherine , Cárdenas Alejandro
Published: April 2017

C12H12ClN3O2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 13.5673(5) Å, b = 7.7549(3) Å, c = 12.4911(5) Å, β = 102.468(2)°, V = 1283.23(9) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt
(F) = 0.047, wRref
(F
2) = 0.123, T = 293(2) K.
Crystal structure of tetrakis(μ
2-3,3-dimethylacrylato-κ
2
O,O′)-bis(2-aminopyrimidine-κN) dicopper(II), C28H38Cu2N6O8
Authors: Kang Jaeun , Kim Minji , Ok Kang Min , Do Junghwan
Published: April 2017

C28H38Cu2N6O8, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 10.6191(1) Å, b = 14.6736(2) Å, c = 11.6519(2) Å, β = 111.056(1)°, V = 1694.38(4) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0298, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0871, T = 296 K.
Hippocampal BDNF in physiological conditions and social isolation
Authors: Zaletel Ivan , Filipović Dragana , Puškaš Nela
Published: April 2017

Exposure of an organism to chronic psychosocial stress may affect brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression that has been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric disorders, such as depression. Given that depression in humans has been linked with social stress, the chronic social stress paradigms for modeling psychiatric disorders in animals have thus been developed. Chronic social isolation in animal models generally causes changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning, associated with anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. Also, this chronic stress causes downregulation of BDNF protein and mRNA in the hippocampus, a stress-sensitive brain region closely related to the pathophysiology of depression. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding the structure, function, intracellular signaling, inter-individual differences and epigenetic regulation of BDNF in both physiological conditions and depression and changes in corticosterone levels, as a marker of stress response. Since BDNF levels are age dependent in humans and rodents, this review will also highlight the effects of adolescent and adult chronic social isolation models of both genders on the BDNF expression.
On the ‘data stirring’ role of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus
Authors: Legéndy Charles R.
Published: April 2017

Understanding hippocampal (HC) function, as it is presently known, includes exploring the HC role in episodic memory storage. As pointed out by Teyler and DiScenna in the 1980s, the apparatus needed for recalling a stored episode, and awakening all its components in a coordinated manner, by necessity includes a triggering device able to reach each of the mental entities that must be awakened. In the context of neuronal networks, the triggering device in question takes the form of a large cell assembly, a separate one made for every new episode stored. The present paper deals with the creation and the properties of these cell assemblies (‘pointer groups’). To perform the function of episodic memory retrieval, each of these must possess the information capacity (entropy) enabling it to single out an episode and the network connections enabling it to reach all components of it; further, to deal with the unpredictability of the memory items it has to address, it must have its member neurons well distributed through the length of the network (the HC). The requirements imply that the creation of a pointer group must include a randomizing step analogous to ‘stirring’. It is argued that many of the known peculiarities of granule cells in the dentate gyrus arise as solutions to the practical problems presented by the creation of the pointer groups and the details of ‘stirring’, and so do a series of other features of the HC network, some of them only discovered in the last few years.
Political Stability, Firm Characteristics and Performance: Evidence from 6,083 Private Firms in the Middle East
Authors: Hosny Amr
Published: April 2017

Using firm-level data from an EBRD/EIB/WB joint survey covering more than 6,000 private firms in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa, this paper (i) examines the relationship between firm characteristics and their perception of the effect of political instability on their operations and (ii) tests whether political instability has had a negative effect on firm performance. Using ordered and binary probit/logit models, we find that (i) export-oriented and larger-sized firms are more likely to report political instability as a sever obstacle to their operations. Using OLS and an endogenous treatment linear regression models, we find that (ii) the perception of political instability is negatively
Development of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and genetic diversity analysis in blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) clones in china
Authors: Fan Chunjie , Liu Qianyu , Zeng Bingshan , Qiu Zhenfei , Zhou Changpin , Chen Kaoke , Guo Guangsheng
Published: April 2017

Understanding the genetic diversity of Acacia melanoxylon is very important in species selection and improvement. The present study aimed to identify microsatellite markers and determine the genetic diversity of 45 preferred clones selected from 9 Chinese districts. Seventy-six simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed for other Acacia species were screened. Seventeen SSR markers showed polymorphic patterns and amplified 134 alleles. Polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.044 to 0.911. The average allele number per locus ranged between 2 and 18, averaging 8.06. Nine SSR markers were highly informative, with PIC values above 0.60. These findings demonstrated that SSR markers could be used to differentiate A. melanoxylon genotypes. Cluster analysis using UPGMA separated the 45 clones into 3 distinct groups at a similarity coefficient of 0.72. The clone groups identified in this study would be useful in developing intraspecific hybrids to exploit hybrid vigor as well as for commercial cultivation and genetic base broadening. The DNA fingerprints obtained for each clone could be used for biodiversity conservation.
Im Dazwischen. Zur Liminalität von Religion und Bildung in der postmigrantischen Gesellschaft
Authors: Simojoki Henrik
Published: April 2017

Wenn Migrantinnen und Migranten über ihren Platz in der Welt sprechen, tun sie das oft in Wendungen, die auf ein „Dazwischen“ verweisen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird dieser für postmigrantische Gesellschaften charakteristische „liminale Raum“ kulturwissenschaftlich erschlossen, theologisch konturiert und vor dem Hintergrund der jüngsten Schübe in der Asylmigration auf seine religionspädagogischen Implikationen hin befragt.
Eine „Periode des Experiments“. Für mehr Realismus in der Debatte um die Zukunft des Religionsunterrichts
Authors: Kubik Andreas
Published: April 2017

Der konfessionelle Religionsunterricht nach Art. 7.3 GG gerät zunehmend in eine Legitimitätskrise. Zugleich entdeckt die Politik seinen Wert neu, nicht zuletzt, um islamischen Religionsunterricht ermöglichen zu können. Dieser Artikel untersucht, ob die diskutierten Alternativen sowohl zukunftsgewandt als auch politisch realisierbar erscheinen. Zu diesem Zweck werden einerseits die rechtlichen Möglichkeiten dargelegt und zum anderen zentrale religionspädagogische Argumente systematisch erörtert.
An Aversive Response to Osmotic Upshift inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Yu Jingyi , Yang Wenxing , Liu He , Hao Yingsong , Zhang Yun
Published: April 2017

Environmental osmolarity presents a common type of sensory stimulus to animals. While behavioral responses to osmotic changes are important for maintaining a stable intracellular osmolarity, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In the natural habitat ofCaenorhabditis elegans, changes in environmental osmolarity are commonplace. It is known that the nematode acutely avoids shocks of extremely high osmolarity. Here, we show thatC. elegansalso generates gradually increased aversion of mild upshifts in environmental osmolarity. Different from an acute avoidance of osmotic shocks that depends on the function of a transient receptor potential vanilloid channel, the slow aversion to osmotic upshifts requires the cGMP-gated sensory channel subunit TAX-2. TAX-2 acts in several sensory neurons that are exposed to body fluid to generate the aversive response through a motor network that underlies navigation. Osmotic upshifts activate the body cavity sensory neuron URX, which is known to induce aversion upon activation. Together, our results characterize the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying a novel sensorimotor response to osmotic stimuli and reveal thatC. elegansengages different behaviors and the underlying mechanisms to regulate responses to extracellular osmolarity.
Epigenetic Age Acceleration Assessed with Human White-Matter Images
Authors: Hodgson Karen , Carless Melanie A. , Kulkarni Hemant , Curran Joanne E. , Sprooten Emma , Knowles Emma E. , Mathias Samuel , Göring Harald H.H. , Yao Nailin , Olvera Rene L. , Fox Peter T. , Almasy Laura , Duggirala Ravi , Blangero John , Glahn David C.
Published: April 2017

The accurate estimation of age using methylation data has proved a useful and heritable biomarker, with acceleration in epigenetic age predicting a number of age-related phenotypes. Measures of white matter integrity in the brain are also heritable and highly sensitive to both normal and pathological aging processes across adulthood. We consider the phenotypic and genetic interrelationships between epigenetic age acceleration and white matter integrity in humans. Our goal was to investigate processes that underlie interindividual variability in age-related changes in the brain. Using blood taken from a Mexican-American extended pedigree sample (n= 628; age = 23.28–93.11 years), epigenetic age was estimated using the method developed by Horvath (2013). Forn= 376 individuals, diffusion tensor imaging scans were also available. The interrelationship between epigenetic age acceleration and global white matter integrity was investigated with variance decomposition methods. To test for neuroanatomical specificity, 16 specific tracts were additionally considered. We observed negative phenotypic correlations between epigenetic age acceleration and global white matter tract integrity (ρpheno= −0.119,p= 0.028), with evidence of shared genetic (ρgene= −0.463,p= 0.013) but not environmental influences. Negative phenotypic and genetic correlations with age acceleration were also seen for a number of specific white matter tracts, along with additional negative phenotypic correlations between granulocyte abundance and white matter integrity. These findings (i.e., increased acceleration in epigenetic age in peripheral blood correlates with reduced white matter integrity in the brain and shares common genetic influences) provide a window into the neurobiology of aging processes within the brain and a potential biomarker of normal and pathological brain aging.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTEpigenetic measures can be used to predict age with a high degree of accuracy and so capture acceleration in biological age, relative to chronological age. The white matter tracts within the brain are also highly sensitive to aging processes. We show that increased biological aging (measured using epigenetic data from blood samples) is correlated with reduced integrity of white matter tracts within the human brain (measured using diffusion tensor imaging) with data from a large sample of Mexican-American families. Given the family design of the sample, we are also able to demonstrate that epigenetic aging and white matter tract integrity also share common genetic influences. Therefore, epigenetic age may be a potential, and accessible, biomarker of brain aging.
Concurrent tACS-fMRI Reveals Causal Influence of Power Synchronized Neural Activity on Resting State fMRI Connectivity
Authors: Bächinger Marc , Zerbi Valerio , Moisa Marius , Polania Rafael , Liu Quanying , Mantini Dante , Ruff Christian , Wenderoth Nicole
Published: April 2017

Resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) is commonly used to study the brain's intrinsic neural coupling, which reveals specific spatiotemporal patterns in the form of resting state networks (RSNs). It has been hypothesized that slow rs-fMRI oscillations (<0.1 Hz) are driven by underlying electrophysiological rhythms that typically occur at much faster timescales (>5 Hz); however, causal evidence for this relationship is currently lacking. Here we measured rs-fMRI in humans while applying transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to entrain brain rhythms in left and right sensorimotor cortices. The two driving tACS signals were tailored to the individual's α rhythm (8–12 Hz) and fluctuated in amplitude according to a 1 Hz power envelope. We entrained the left versus right hemisphere in accordance to two different coupling modes where either α oscillations were synchronized between hemispheres (phase-synchronized tACS) or the slower oscillating power envelopes (power-synchronized tACS). Power-synchronized tACS significantly increased rs-fMRI connectivity within the stimulated RSN compared with phase-synchronized or no tACS. This effect outlasted the stimulation period and tended to be more effective in individuals who exhibited a naturally weak interhemispheric coupling. Using this novel approach, our data provide causal evidence that synchronized power fluctuations contribute to the formation of fMRI-based RSNs. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that the brain's intrinsic coupling at rest can be selectively modulated by choosing appropriate tACS signals, which could lead to new interventions for patients with altered rs-fMRI connectivity.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTResting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) has become an important tool to estimate brain connectivity. However, relatively little is known about how slow hemodynamic oscillations measured with fMRI relate to electrophysiological processes. It was suggested that slowly fluctuating power envelopes of electrophysiological signals synchronize across brain areas and that the topography of this activity is spatially correlated to resting state networks derived from rs-fMRI. Here we take a novel approach to address this problem and establish a causal link between the power fluctuations of electrophysiological signals and rs-fMRI via a new neuromodulation paradigm, which exploits these power synchronization mechanisms. These novel mechanistic insights bridge different scientific domains and are of broad interest to researchers in the fields of Medical Imaging, Neuroscience, Physiology, and Psychology.
Developing Scientists: Authentic Research in Genetics using Paramecia
Authors: Elwess Nancy L. , Latourelle Sandra M. , Murphy Michael
Published: April 2017

Attempting to foster mastery learning for students in the biological sciences, we incorporated an authentic research-based activity that contained real-world applications. To do this, we redesigned a laboratory component of a junior level, general genetics course. This included lengthening the time for the experiment, incorporating new technology for data analyses, and generating new assessments. These changes led to a more collaborative and interactive environment. Students were given the challenge of inducing a phenotypic change within the model organism, Paramecium. This allowed students to design their own experimental approaches. We assessed the students on formative and summative levels to determine if they were accomplishing the learning outcomes. Students demonstrated they were successful in meeting these, which included mastering a set of laboratory skills, designing their own experiment, and incorporating technology needed for data collection and analyses.
Using Drosophila to Study How Genes Control Cell Migration
Authors: McCormick Kevin , Dobens Leonard L.
Published: April 2017

Cell migration is a basic developmental function that serves to build tissues, organs, and whole animals. Defects in cell migration are associated with birth defects and cancer, in particular the metastasis of tumors. Over the past forty years researchers have used the fruit fly to understand the genetic basis of development, including cell migration, but many of the tools and approaches used are beyond the skills and understanding of an undergraduate and advanced high school lab. We have developed a practical lab that allows students to use fly oogenesis to understand how genes regulate cell migration. Students learn to sort males from females, recognize fly genetic markers to identify wild type and mutant animals, hand-dissect ovaries, perform histochemical staining to reveal gene expression in this tissue, and visualize normal and aberrant cell migration using light microscopy to distinguish the effect of a key mutation in a gene required for cell migration. From this approach, students learn how mutations can aid in understanding gene function and how modern genetic tools and microscopy are used to study gene expression and development. Because these genes have human homologs, students learn how model organisms can be used to understand the molecular basis of disease and disorders, such as cancer.
Teaching the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium: A 5E Lesson Plan
Authors: Smith Mike U.
Published: April 2017

In an earlier paper (Smith & Baldwin, 2015), we explained the basic concepts of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWeq) principle needed for meaningful understanding and for good teaching, emphasizing distinctions that are sometimes ignored at the cost of coherent understanding, and identifying nine shortcomings of most available Hardy-Weinberg activities and problem sets. In the present paper, we provide a 5E lesson plan based on that analysis and designed to avoid the shortcomings identified, including providing original data and focusing on understanding and topics that are interesting and meaningful to young people.
Building ZOOB Models to Help Students Learn about Nucleic Acid Structure and Function
Authors: Mulligan Elizabeth A.
Published: April 2017

This paper describes a collaborative activity for students, which allows them to build simplified models of individual nucleotides, DNA, and RNA using ZOOB building blocks. These models help students learn about nucleic acid structure and the process of transcription. In addition, students learn how to work in groups as well as practice critical thinking and deductive reasoning while building these models.
Performing Autism through a Layered Account
Authors: Jensen Vigdis Stokker
Published: April 2017

This piece dialogically makes methodological, theoretical, and substantive contributions to existing literature on autoethnography, Foucault and queer temporality studies, and autism. The text is based on ethnographic observations from a psych education class for adults diagnosed with autism and an interview with a psychologist who teaches the class. A layered account approach is used to explore the emergent lived experience of time and space for people diagnosed with autism. The concept of chrononormativity serves as a starting point for understanding the autism experience and a springboard for the introduction of an analytical concept that I term toponormativity.
Dialogue with a Diary and a Diarist
Authors: Parsloe Sarah M.
Published: April 2017

Writing a diary offers an avenue for healing a damaged sense of Self. Diarists record interactions with Others that both confirm and invalidate. Simultaneously, they exercise agency in framing these interactions. In this essay I explore the dialogic nature of 18 diary entries written by “Paul,” an autistic man, who shared them with me during my master's thesis research. Through internally dialogic strategies such as playing with genres, adding layers, and creating characters, Paul captured and resisted invalidating interactions with others. Additionally, by designing his diary to be shared with others, Paul cultivated the space for an I–Thou connection.
RSK activation via ERK modulates human colon cancer cells response to PTHrP
Authors: Calvo Natalia , Carriere Pedro , Martin María Julia , Gentili Claudia
Published: April 2017

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is associated with several human cancers such as colon carcinoma. This disease is a complex multistep process that involves enhanced cell cycle progression and migration. Recently we obtained evidence that in the human colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco2 cells, exogenous PTHrP increases the proliferation and positively modulates cell cycle progression via ERK1/2, p38 MAPK and PI3K. The purpose of this study was to explore if the serine/threonine kinase RSK, which is involved in the progress of many cancers and it is emerging as a potential therapeutic target, mediates PTHrP effects on cancer colon cells. Western blot analysis revealed that PTHrP increases RSK phosphorylation via ERK1/2 signaling pathway but not through p38 MAPK. By performing subcellular fractionation, we found that the peptide also induces the nuclear localization of activated RSK, where many of its substrates are located. RSK participates in cell proliferation, in the upregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK6 and in the downregulation of p53 induced by PTHrP. Wound healing and transwell filter assays revealed that cell migration increased after PTHrP treatment. In addition, the hormone increases the protein expression of the focal adhesion kinase FAK, a regulator of cell motility. We observed that PTHrP induces cell migration and modulates FAK protein expression through ERK/RSK signaling pathway but not via p38 MAPK pathway. Finally,in vivostudies revealed that the hormone activates RSK in xenografts tumor. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the deregulated cell cycle and migration that is characteristic of tumor intestinal cells.