bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor
Authors: Miyamoto Toshiaki , Kou Keihou , Yanamoto Hideya , Hashimoto Saya , Ikawa Mai , Sekiyama Takashi , Nakano Yoshiki , Kashiwamura Shin-ichiro , Takeda Chisako , Fujioka Hiroyuki 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been considered an essential mediator responsible for the beneficial effects of physical activity in preventing cognitive impairment. This study aimed at examining the effects of a single bout of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on levels of BDNF in the plasma and on cognitive performance in healthy adult men. Thirteen healthy adult men participated in three experimental sessions. The first session was 30 min of NMES to both legs, the second was 30 min of cycling exercise at the intensity of 60% peak oxygen uptake, and the third was 30 min of complete rest. Blood was examined for plasma BDNF levels and glucose concentrations, and cognitive performance tests were performed before and after each session. A single bout of NMES significantly increased plasma BDNF levels (p<0.05), which were equivalent to the amount of plasma BDNF released during the exercise session (p>0.05). However, there were no significant changes in cognitive performance between the sessions (p>0.05). The present study found that a single bout of NMES significantly increased plasma BDNF to levels normally present during moderate voluntary exercise. Therefore, NMES could serve as an alternative method of exercise, and might shed light on individuals for whom voluntary physical exercise is contraindicated.
Sprint Interval Training Decreases Circulating MicroRNAs Important for Muscle Development
Authors: Denham Joshua , Gray Adrian , Scott-Hamilton John , Hagstrom Amanda 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSmall non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), have emerged as powerful post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that play important roles in many developmental and biological processes. In this study, we assessed the abundance of circulating microRNAs important for skeletal muscle and heart adaptations to exercise (miR-1, miR-133a, miR-133b and miR-486), following acute exercise and short-term sprint interval training (SIT). Twenty-eight individuals completed four all-out efforts on a cycle ergometer, and donated blood before and 30 min after the cessation of exercise. A subset of 10 untrained men completed 4-6 efforts of SIT, three times a week for 6 weeks, and donated resting blood samples before and after the intervention. MiRNA TaqMan qPCR was performed and whilst no changes were observed after a single session of SIT (all p>0.05), the 6-wk SIT intervention significantly reduced the whole blood content of all four miRNAs (mean fold-changes: 0.37–0.48, all p<0.01). Our data suggests that circulating miRNAs are responsive to short-term SIT and could have roles in SIT-induced health and performance adaptations. Further work is required to establish whether circulating miRNAs could serve as biomarkers for predicting exercise training responses and monitoring exercise interventions.
Student perceptions of the classroom learning environment and motivation to learn Chinese
Authors: Ji Chongmin , Duffield Stacy , Wageman Justin J. , Welch Anita G. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis study investigated the associations between student perceptions of their classroom psychosocial learning environment and their motivation to learn Mandarin Chinese in the United States. The students took two surveys that measured their perception of the Chinese classroom psychosocial learning environment and their motivation to learn Chinese. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. There were statistically significant associations between student perception and motivation for learning the Chinese language. The three scales of Task Orientation, Involvement, and Equity emerged as having the most influence on students’ motivation to learn Chinese. The Task Orientation scale had the strongest relationship with student motivation.
Chinese language learners’ anxiety toward chat partners in computer-mediated communication
Authors: Wang Yanlin , Crooks Steven M. , Borst Stefanie 
Published: November 2017

AbstractStudies have shown foreign language anxiety (FLA) can negatively impact learners’ performance in the classroom, but learners experience less FLA during computer-mediated communication (CMC) activities. Although it has been documented that communicating with native speakers (NSs) can make foreign language learners more anxious, very few empirical studies have compared learners’ anxiety levels toward different online chat partners. The current study investigated intermediate Chinese language learners’ FLA in online text CMC activities chatting with NSs and non-native speakers (NNSs). The quantitative data analyses showed that there was a significant difference in the anxiety level between chatting with NSs and NNSs in text-based CMC: chatting with NSs made Chinese learners more anxious than chatting with NNSs. Language confidence and partner familiarity were the two main factors mediating the anxiety. Practical pedagogical implications and future research directions were discussed.
试析师生性格特征与口头纠正性反馈之间的关系
Authors: Sun Peijian 
Published: November 2017

摘要
口头纠正性反馈包括直接更正、元语言反馈、重铸、要求澄清、重复错误和诱导这六种方式。大量研究表明口头纠正性反馈对学习者语言能力的提升具有积极作用。性格特征，作为一个人的心理认同，具有相对稳定的特性，尤其就成年人而言。众多研究表明性格特征能够影响一个人第二语言的习得。然而，口头纠正性反馈与性格特征之间的关系却未能引起广泛重视。本文通过问卷调查、课堂录音和个别访谈三种方式考察了师生性格特征与口头纠正性反馈之间的关系。研究结果表明：（1）性格特征在一定程度上会影响教师口头纠正性反馈的纠错力度，但并不影响教师对不同类型偏误所持的纠错态度及反馈方式的总体选择。（2）师生就口头纠正性反馈方式所持的态度不尽相同，尤其在“直接更正”、“重铸”和“重复错误”方式上。（3）不同性格特征的教师和学生在口头纠正性反馈的选择上所持态度存在一定差异，尤其在“直接更正”、“元语言反馈”、“重铸”和“诱导”方面。
Protistan parasites and Myxozoa.
Authors: Rohde K. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Coverage of 'lower' organisms in this book is restricted to protistan and metazoan parasites and excludes fungi and other organisms such as bacteria and viruses, many of which are parasitic. The boundary between fungi and protistans is not well-defined. Protistan taxonomy, based on molecular phylogeny, is continually changing. For example, the Sarcomastigophora (still treated as such in this chapter), has disintegrated into many separate, high ranking taxa. Among them, the Opalinata belongs to a class of Heterokonta, these themselves are a subphylum of the phylum Chromista. This chapter includes groups that have commonly been considered to be protistan. It also includes the Myxozoa, which have the appearance of protistans and were for a long time considered to belong to that group. Recent DNA and ultrastructural studies have shown that they are metazoan, although their exact position within the metazoans has not been resolved. Like the Cnidaria, they possess nematocysts (or nematocyst-like structures), but molecular evidence points to a position among the bilaterian metazoan. All the groups discussed in this chapter have considerable importance as agents of disease, particularly in aquacultured fish and molluscs. Some of them, in particular the Microsporidia and Apicomplexa, are important as infective agents in immunocompromised people. Species richness is practically unknown for Sarcomastigophora, Microsporidia, Ciliophora and Myxozoa: new species are being described continually. In Australia, for example, <5% of the thousands of fish species have been examined for these parasites, and sample sizes of those which have been examined, were small. Fish of African, South American and many Asian countries have been examined even less. It may well be that these parasites belong to the most speciose groups of parasites in the marine environment and, as such, have considerable ecological importance. Also, at least some of the vast number of marine invertebrates that are yet to be examined are likely to have protistan parasites, probably including large numbers of sarcomastigophorans and ciliophorans. In view of the great morphological and taxonomic diversity of the protistans, this chapter begins with a brief overview of this kingdom before proceeding to the various sections dealing with the groups in greater detail.
Helminth parasites.
Authors: Rohde K. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Helminths (parasitic worms) are among the most important groups of marine parasites. They include some turbellarians (most of which are free living), ectoparasitic flukes (Monogenea), endoparasitic flukes (Aspidogastrea and Digenea), the various cestodes including the Amphilinidea, Gyrocotylidea and Eucestoda, nematodes (roundworms) and acanthocephalans (spiny-headed worms). Species numbers of some of these groups are enormous. Only a small proportion of the trematodes and monogeneans, for example, has been described, but total species number of these two groups has been estimated to be many tens of thousands. Many species have great ecological and economic importance. Monogeneans are known to do much damage to fish in aquaculture, and some cases of mass mortalities in the sea caused by monogeneans have been documented. Monogeneans, jointly with the copepods, are the most diverse group of ectoparasites of fish, as are the digeneans among the endoparasites. Digeneans are by far the most diverse group of metazoan endoparasites of fish and have evolved life cycles ranging from fairly simple to extremely complex. Nematodes are important parasites of many groups of marine animals including fish, marine mammals, birds and invertebrates. Some marine helminths have considerable theoretical interest. The Aspidogastrea, for example, are believed to be very ancient, hundreds of millions of years old, with many archaic characteristics. They may cast light on the evolution of parasitism in the trematodes. Acanthocephala are useful as pollution monitors: they accumulate certain pollutants at a much higher rate than their hosts. Parasitism in the turbellarians has arisen several times, some living in the intestine, others in the tube feet of echinoderms, and others again on the gills of marine fish. Adaptations to their way of life vary considerably, making them fascinating objects of study in what may be called comparative parasitology. The eucestodes, discussed in a beautifully illustrated section, are important parasites in the digestive tract especially of elasmobranchs, with a whole spectrum of remarkable morphological adaptations of their attachment organs, and some with extremely complex life cycles.
Coevolution and speciation.
Authors: Rohde K. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Marine parasites have not ranked highly as evolutionary models. The only evolutionary aspect of marine parasites that has been studied in greater detail is coevolution. Much effort has gone into comparing evolution of some marine host groups, in particular various fishes, seabirds, and mammals, and of their parasites. The very detailed discussion of coevolution discusses these examples, but also points out that much work remains to be done: for most host and parasite taxa, information necessary to make inferences about coevolutionary patterns is insufficient. Much less is known about mechanisms of speciation. The author of the section on speciation and species delimitation stresses the importance of understanding what species are. Such understanding is a prerequisite for addressing fundamental questions about biological processes and biodiversity. Various ways to delimit species are discussed, as are the few examples of studies of species delimitation and speciation in marine parasites.
Zoogeography.
Authors: Rohde K. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter reviews evidence for gradients not only in marine parasite diversity, but also for gradients in reproductive strategies, host specificity and latitudinal ranges. Concerning gradients with depth, relative species diversity of monogeneans is several times greater in surface than in deep waters off eastern Australia. Parasites can be used to study host populations and their migration, not only of marine fish but also of various invertebrates. Such parasite tags are much cheaper than other methods, such as comparative genetic studies, as discussed (on pages 351-355). The section discusses general methodology, selection criteria for tag parasites and application of the method to different host groups (crustaceans, cephalopods, pelagic fish, demersal fish, marine mammals). Parasites also are useful for making inferences about long-term historical dispersal. The relevant section describes the only 2 examples studied (i.e. that of scombrid dispersal with emphasis on the role of oceanic barriers, and that on the historical migrations of Indo-Pacific whiting, Sillaginidae). The section on introduced marine parasites (e.g. protozoan parasites, monogeneans, trematodes, nematodes, polychaetes, copepods, rhizocephalans) addresses a very important problem (i.e. that of the many parasites introduced into new regions, where they have become important pests). It also discusses the use of deliberately introduced parasites to control introduced free-living pest species, such as crabs or echinoderms. The chapter concludes with a concise discussion of deep-sea parasites. Very little is known about the diversity and distribution of free-living deep-sea organisms (probably more than 99% of invertebrates have not yet been described), and deep-sea parasites have been studied even less. They are of great importance, considering the huge spaces of the deep-seas, and the many species of fish and invertebrates found there.
Economic and environmental importance.
Authors: Rohde K. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Almost all (if not all) groups of marine animals including the various invertebrates and vertebrates are hosts to parasites. Parasites of these groups have been discussed by various authors in the four volumes edited by Kinne (1980-1985). This chapter is restricted to discussions of parasitic infections of the more important groups. Marine parasites are of very great ecological importance, as suggested by their great diversity, and by their often high prevalences and intensities of infection. However, very little is known about how they affect host populations in the oceans. An exception is the long-term study of salmon lice on Atlantic salmon not only in aquaculture but also in wild salmon populations, conducted because of the great economic importance of salmon. Mass mortalities caused by parasites have not been well documented for marine fish and invertebrates because of the large spaces in the oceans involved and the difficulties in monitoring such effects. Effects on marine birds are little understood and need much further study: mass mortalities of seabirds have been attributed to several causes but parasite examinations which could have revealed the role of parasites in the mortalities were not conducted. Effects on mammals such as whales are well documented, and hundreds of parasite species of mammals have been described; nevertheless, much needs to be done in this area as well. Much greater effort has gone into the study of parasite diseases in aquaculture, which is not surprising in view of the enormous and rising economic value of aquacultured fish, molluscs and crustaceans, estimated at many billions (109) of dollars annually. For example, the commercial value of cultured salmonid fishes alone in 2001 was around US$3.84 billion (US$7.44 billion for all finfish). Disease, and much of it resulting from parasites, is the single most important factor threatening the aquaculture industry. Beside these important negative aspects of marine parasites, this chapter also discusses a more positive aspect of parasites: the use of parasites in pollution monitoring. Pollution may affect the composition of parasite communities, and some parasites store certain pollutants to a higher degree than their hosts; both these phenomena can be used for monitoring pollution.
Agriculture as a producer of energy.
Authors: Eidman V. R. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter documents the role agriculture is playing as a supplier of energy for the US economy and discusses the potential contributions agriculture can make to the nation's energy supply in the near future. More specifically, this chapter (1) documents the amount of energy used by the US economy and agriculture's role in supplying it; (2) discusses the current state of technology in energy production from agricultural biomass; (3) summarizes some recent literature on the potential contribution agriculture can make to the US energy supply; and (4) provides a brief overview of the developing ethanol and biodiesel industries in other countries.
Energy systems integration: fitting biomass energy from agriculture into US energy systems.
Authors: Doering O. C., III 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter explores the prospects of biomass from agriculture as an increased component of the US national energy use. It examines: (1) the extent to which biomass sources and systems can meet the form, time, and place determinants of energy utility that consumers obtain from current sources and systems; (2) the compelling reasons for current energy sources and systems to predominate that tie them to consumers and may discourage their replacement by other systems and sources; (3) how biomass energy might be successfully integrated into current systems and the critical challenges in doing this; and (4) the policy issues that have to be dealt with for biomass sources to integrate or successfully create replacements for existing energy systems.
US oil and gas markets: a scenario for future strong inter-fuel competition.
Authors: Lindemer K. J. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter looks at the volatility in both the world oil and North American natural gas markets. It is suggested that despite the greater degree of volatility, both markets appear set to remain at higher price levels for the foreseeable future. While oil prices are likely to recede from the recent very high levels experienced in 2004, North American natural gas prices are likely to remain much higher than the prices experienced prior to 2000 and higher relative to oil prices. It is argued that the emerging price dynamic between oil and natural gas in North America will reshape the demand for oil and gas and potentially have an important impact on the future energy market in the USA. Implications for the agricultural industry are also briefly discussed.
Dry-mill ethanol plant economics and sensitivity.
Authors: Tiffany D. G. , Eidman V. R. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

In an attempt to address the numerous factors that influence the operational and financial success of dry-mill fuel ethanol plants in the USA, a spreadsheet was developed that can be used by potential investors in ethanol production, those planning new operations, or managers evaluating their financial impacts or improving an existing plant's performance. This chapter reviews the design features of the spreadsheet and the rationale for that design. An application of the spreadsheet is also presented. The spreadsheet was used to determine the economic returns for a modern 40-million-gal/year plant with current scale economies, investment costs and enhanced ethanol yields in its first year of operation by re-playing a decade of historic prices for products and inputs. The model demonstrates that even a well-located plant will experience times of difficult operating conditions and gross margins.
An econometric analysis of the impact of the expansion in the US production of ethanol from maize and biodiesel from soybeans on major agricultural variables, 2005-2015.
Authors: Ferris J. N. , Voshi S. V. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter provides an analysis of the possible effects on agriculture of alternative scenarios for programmes that encourage the expansion of ethanol and biodiesel production in the USA. The analysis focuses on comparisons of scenarios with baselines over the 2006-15 projection period. It is concluded that expansion in the use of maize for ethanol and soyabeans for biodiesel can be accommodated without major increases in acreages or disruptions in the normal pattern of utilization of these crops. Higher maize and soyabean prices will have minimal impacts on retail food prices. Most notable will be larger supplies of maize by-product feeds for domestic use and export. It is suggested that renewable fuel programmes can help ensure an economically viable agriculture and minimize federal farm programme costs, benefits which will be even more pronounced if maize and soyabean prices are lower than projected in the baseline.
Economic modelling of a lignocellulosic biomass biorefining industry.
Authors: Epplin F. M. , Mapemba L. D. , Tembo G. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter describes a modelling system that could be used to develop an optimal plan for providing a steady flow of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) to a biorefinery. The model could be used to determine for a specific region, the most economical sources of LCB, timing of harvest and storage, inventory management, biorefinery size and biorefinery location. The model was applied in the case of the state of Oklahoma to determine optimal combinations of LCB feedstock from among grasses produced on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, crop residues (maize stover and wheat straw), perennial grasses (indigenous grasses from native range and introduced grasses from pastures) and dedicated feedstock such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Results indicate, among others, that restricting harvest to CRP acres imposes a rather substantial cost on the industry. For a 2000-t/day biorefinery, limiting feedstock production to CRP land would increase the expected cost to deliver a tonne of LCB to US$69 compared with a cost of US$33 for the multiple feedstock model. The economic model suggests that the cost to deliver a continuous flow of LCB to a biorefinery will depend critically upon the logistics of procuring, harvesting, storing, and transporting the LCB.
Economic impacts of ethanol production from maize stover in selected midwestern states.
Authors: English B. C. , Menard R. J. , Torre Ugarte D. G. de la , Walsh M. E. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter provides estimates of economic impacts if stover-to-ethanol plants are established in the current maize producing states of the USA. The economic impact indicators used in the analysis include total industry output, employment, and value-added. Results indicate that an ethanol plant provides substantial estimated economic impacts for total industry output and employment. It is also shown that the number of feasible ethanol plants in each state could vary substantially based on the prices of ethanol and maize stover and plant size. Finally, the economic potential of increased ethanol production can be better summarized when considering the case where producers are guaranteed US$1.35/gal at a break-even price scenario for a 2000-MT/day plant. For this scenario, an estimated 72 plants would be constructed, 8.8 billion gal of ethanol would be produced, US$1.0 billion in gross income to agricultural producers would occur, and an estimated economic impact of US$14 billion in the rural economies of the 10-state region would be realized.
Trends in US poultry housing for energy conservation.
Authors: Worley J. W. , Czarick M. M. , Fairchild B. F. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This chapter presents estimates of: (1) the expected energy savings from several technologies being employed in US broiler houses, including wider houses, more efficient ventilation fans, replacing curtain walls with solid walls, litter treatments to reduce ammonia emissions, and circulation fans for heat distribution; (2) the extent to which these technologies are being adopted; and (3) the potential for energy savings attributable to these new technologies on an industry-wide basis.