bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary history and species diversity ofAfrican pouched mice (Rodentia:Nesomyidae:Saccostomus)
Authors: Mikula Ondřej , Šumbera Radim , Aghová Tatiana , Mbau Judith S. , Katakweba Abdul S. , Sabuni Christopher A. , Bryja Josef 
Published: April 2016

We explore diversity ofAfrican pouched mice, genusSaccostomus(Rodentia,Nesomyidae), by sampling molecular and morphological variation across their continental‐scale distribution in southern and easternAfrican savannahs and woodlands. Both mitochondrial (cytochrome b) and nuclearDNA(IRBP,RAG1) as well as skull morphology confirm the distinction between two recognized species,S. campestrisandS. mearnsi, with disjunct distribution in theZambezian andSomali–Maasai bioregions, respectively. Molecular dating suggests the divergence of these taxa occurred in theEarlyPliocene, 3.9 Ma before present, whereas the deepest divergences within each of them are only as old as 2.0 Ma forS. mearnsiand 1.4 Ma forS. campestris. Based on cytochrome b phylogeny, we defined five clades (three withinS. campestris, two inS. mearnsi) whose species status was considered in the light of nuclearDNAmarkers and morphology. We conclude thatS. campestrisgroup consists of two subspeciesS. campestris campestris(Peters, 1846; comprising two cytochrome b clades) andS. campestris mashonae(deWinton, 1897) that are moderately differentiated, albeit distinct inIRBPand skull form. They likely hybridize to a limited extent along theKafue–ZambeziRivers.Saccostomus mearnsigroup consists of two species,S. mearnsi(Heller, 1910) andS. umbriventer(Miller, 1910), that are markedly differentiated in both nuclear markers and skull form and may possibly co‐occur in south‐westernKenya and north‐easternTanzania. Analysis of historical demography suggests both subspecies ofS. campestrisexperienced population expansion dated to theLastGlacial. In the present range ofS. campestrisgroup, the distribution modelling suggests a moderate fragmentation of suitable habitats during the last glacial cycle, whereas in the range ofS. mearnsigroup it predicts substantial shifts of its occurrence in the same period.
Impaired glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion and reduced β‐cell mass in pancreatic islets of hyperthyroid rats
Authors: Karbalaei Narges , Noorafshan Ali , Hoshmandi Ebrahim 
Published: April 2016

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?
Thyroid dysfunction can have a major impact on pancreatic function. The influence of hyperthyroidism on insulin secretion remains controversial, and the precise mechanism of its effect has not yet been elucidated.

What is the main finding and its importance?
The results of this study demonstrate that hyperthyroidism leads to impaired insulin secretion. It appears that the defect in insulin secretion in the hyperthyroid state probably reflects a summation of different alterations, including decreased sensitivity of ATP‐sensitive K+ and L‐type Ca2+ channels of the β‐cells and reduced β‐cell mass.

To clarify the mechanism underlying the effect of thyroid hormone excess on pancreatic insulin secretion and abnormal glucose tolerance induced by hyperthyroidism, we investigated the effect of hyperthyroidism on the pancreatic β‐cell mass and two key components of the insulin secretory pathway, ATP‐sensitive K+ (KATP) and L‐type Ca2+ channels. In control and levothyroxine‐treated hyperthyroid rats, an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test was performed, and the insulin secretion and content of the isolated islets were assayed. In order to determine the effect of hyperthyroidism on KATP and L‐type Ca2+ channels, isolated islets were exposed to specific pharmacological agents, including glibenclamide (KATP channel blocker), diazoxide (KATP channel opener) and nifedipine (L‐type Ca2+ channel blocker). Histomorphometric changes and histochemistry of the islet in both groups were compared. Our data indicated that plasma glucose and insulin concentrations during the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test in the hyperthyroid group were, respectively, higher and lower than in the control group. Insulin secretion and content of the hyperthyroid islets were reduced. The response of hyperthyroid islets to glibenclamide, diazoxide and nifedipine and the percentage change in insulin secretion were lower than those of the control islets. Despite the increase in weight and total volume of the pancreas, the volume of the islets and the total number of insulin‐positive cells in hyperthyroid rats were reduced. Our data indicated that reduced insulin secretion in the hyperthyroid group might arise from reduced β‐cell mass and an abnormality in some parts of the insulin secretory pathway, including KATP and L‐type Ca2+ channel function.
Lessons from altitude: cerebral perfusion insights and their potential translational clinical significance
Authors: Imray Chris 
Published: April 2016

New Findings
What is the topic of this review?
The long‐held assumption that transcranial Doppler middle cerebral artery velocity is a surrogate for cerebral blood flow has been questioned in certain circumstances, particularly where tissue oxygenation changes.

What advances does it highlight?
Cerebral venous outflow restriction appears to be implicated in the development of high‐altitude cerebral oedema.

Rapid ascent to high altitude commonly results in acute mountain sickness and, on occasion, potentially fatal high‐altitude cerebral oedema. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms behind these syndromes remain to be determined. One of the main theories to explain the development of acute mountain sickness is an increase in intracranial pressure. Vasogenic (extracellular water accumulation attributable to increased permeability of the blood–brain barrier) and cytotoxic (intracellular) oedema have also been postulated as potential mechanisms that underlie high‐altitude cerebral oedema. Recently published findings derived from a very challenging field study (obtained at altitudes of up to 7950 m), substantiated by sea‐level hypoxic magnetic resonance angiography studies, have given new insights into the maintenance of cerebral blood flow at altitude. This report provides new perspectives and potential mechanisms to account for the maintenance of cerebral oxygen delivery at high and extreme altitude. In particular, the long‐held assumption that transcranial Doppler middle cerebral artery velocity is a surrogate for cerebral blood flow has been shown to be incorrect in certain circumstances. The emerging evidence for a potential third mechanism, namely the restrictive venous outflow hypothesis, in the development of high‐altitude cerebral oedema, over and above the accepted vasogenic and cytotoxic hypotheses, is also appraised.
Maternal obesity epigenetically alters visceral fat progenitor cell properties in male offspring mice
Authors: Liang Xingwei , Yang Qiyuan , Fu Xing , Rogers Carl J. , Wang Bo , Pan Hong , Zhu Mei‐Jun , Nathanielsz Peter W. , Du Min 
Published: April 2016

Key points
Maternal obesity reduces adipogenic progenitor density in offspring adipose tissue.
The ability of adipose tissue expansion in the offspring of obese mothers is limited and is associated with metabolic dysfunction of adipose tissue when challenged with a high‐fat diet.
Maternal obesity induces DNA demethylation in the promoter of zinc finger protein 423, which renders progenitor cells with a high adipogenic capacity.
Maternal obesity demonstrates long‐term effects on the adipogenic capacity of progenitor cells in offspring adipose tissue, demonstrating a developmental programming effect.
AbstractMaternal obesity (MO) programs offspring obesity and metabolic disorders, although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. Progenitor cells are the source of new adipocytes. The present study aimed to test whether MO epigenetically predisposes adipocyte progenitors in the fat of offspring to adipogenic differentiation and subsequent depletion, which leads to a failure of adipose tissue plasticity under positive energy balance, contributing to adipose tissue metabolic dysfunction. C57BL/6 female mice were fed either a control diet (10% energy from fat) or a high‐fat diet (45% energy from fat) for 8 weeks before mating. Male offspring of control (Con) and obese (OB) dams were weaned onto a regular (Reg) or obesogenic (Obe) diet until 3 months of age. At weaning, male OB offspring had a higher expression of Zinc finger protein 423 (zfp423), a key transcription factor in adipogenesis, as well as lower DNA methylation of its promoter in progenitors of epididymal fat compared to Con offspring, which was correlated with enhanced adipogenic differentiation. At 3 months of age, progenitor density was 30.9 ± 9.7% lower in OB/Obe compared to Con/Obe mice, accompanied by a limited expansion of the adipocyte number when challenged with a high‐energy diet. This difference was associated with lower DNA methylation in the zfp423 promoter in the epididymal fat of OB/Obe offspring, which was correlated with greater macrophage chemotactic protein‐1 and hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α expression. In summary, MO epigenetically limits the expansion capacity of offspring adipose tissue, providing an explanation for the adipose metabolic dysfunction of male offspring in the setting of MO.
The rat suprachiasmatic nucleus: the master clock ticks at 30 Hz
Authors: Tsuji Takahiro , Tsuji Chiharu , Ludwig Mike , Leng Gareth 
Published: April 2016

Key points
Light‐responsive neurones in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus discharge with a harmonic distribution of interspike intervals, whereas unresponsive neurones seldom do.
This harmonic patterning has a fundamental frequency of close to 30 Hz, and is the same in light‐on cells as in light‐off cells, and is unaffected by exposure to light.
Light‐on cells are more active than light‐off cells in both subjective day and subjective night, and both light‐on cells and light‐off cells respond more strongly to changes in light intensity during the subjective night than during the subjective day.
Paired recordings indicate that the discharge of adjacent light‐responsive cells is very tightly synchronized.
The gap junction inhibitor carbenoxolone increases the spontaneous activity of suprachiasmatic nucleus neurones but does not block the harmonic discharge patterning.
AbstractThe suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus has an essential role in orchestrating circadian rhythms of behaviour and physiology. In the present study, we recorded from single SCN neurons in urethane‐anaesthetized rats, categorized them by the statistical features of their electrical activity and by their responses to light, and examined how activity in the light phase differs from activity in the dark phase. We classified cells as light‐on cells or light‐off cells according to how their firing rate changed in acute response to light, or as non‐responsive cells. In both sets of light‐responsive neurons, responses to light were stronger at subjective night than in subjective day. Neuronal firing patterns were analysed by constructing hazard functions from interspike interval data. For most light‐responsive cells, the hazard functions showed a multimodal distribution, with a harmonic sequence of modes, indicating that spike activity was driven by an oscillatory input with a fundamental frequency of close to 30 Hz; this harmonic pattern was rarely seen in non‐responsive SCN cells. The frequency of the rhythm was the same in light‐on cells as in light‐off cells, was the same in subjective day as at subjective night, and was unaffected by exposure to light. Paired recordings indicated that the discharge of adjacent light‐responsive neurons was very tightly synchronized, consistent with electrical coupling.
Governance als Grundlage für Nationales Hosting von digitalen Verlagspublikationen
Authors: Weber Sylvia , Dähne Judith 
Published: April 2016

Zusammenfassung
Den Zugang zu lizensierten elektronischen Ressourcen dauerhaft zu sichern, ist das Ziel des DFG-geförderten Projektes NatHosting. Für das entwickelte Sicherungskonzept ist „Governance“, verstanden als Koordination der Akteure und Steuerung der Prozesse, ein wesentlicher Faktor in der Umsetzung: Eine Hosting-Agentur soll die Aufgaben koordinieren, bündeln und in Teilen auch zentral bearbeiten – in Rücksprache und im Auftrag der Bibliotheken und Konsortien. Ein gemeinnütziger und haftungsbeschränkter Verein soll die entscheidungsrelevanten Akteure miteinbeziehen, Träger der Hosting-Agentur sein und den technischen Betrieb beauftragen.
Sensitive electrogravimetric immunoassay of hepatitis B surface antigen through hyperbranched polymer bridge linked to multiple secondary antibodies
Authors: Zhang Li-Qiu , Shen Hong-Xia , Cheng Qiong , Liu Li-Chun 
Published: April 2016

AbstractA method for using a hyperbranched polymer (HBP) as a bridge to link multiple secondary antibodies at HBP branches to amplify the detection response signal on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM)-based sandwich-type immunosensor is reported. Carboxyl groups were prepared at multiple branches of HBP to make possible chemical binding between HBP and secondary antibodies via the carboxyl–amine reaction. The total mass ovcry antibodies were used to enhance the signal on a QCM chip in comparison with a simple sandwich-type immune reaction. By contrast, the proposed method could cause one antigen to analogously react with multiple secondary antibodies as a result of the branch structure of HBP. The strategy of using HBP as a bridge to link multiple secondary antibodies succeeded in quantitatively detecting the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). By employing demonstrated HBP bridge-linking, the frequency shift on a QCM chip was approximately 5 times greater than conventional methods without modification at secondary antibodies. The limit of detection of HBsAg was achieved as 2.0 ng mL
Bioremediation of PCB-contaminated sediments and evaluation of their pre- and post-treatment ecotoxicity
Authors: Dudášová Hana , Lászlová Katarína , Lukáčová Lucia , Balaščáková Marta , Murínová Slavomíra , Dercová Katarína 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe paper deals with the application of two perspective and promising bioremediation approaches, bioaugmentation and biostimulation, applied to sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with the aim to enhance biodegradation of PCBs. Sediments were sampled from Strážsky canal, an industrial waste canal that flows from a former PCB-factory through the Laborec river into the Zemplínska šírava water reservoir, all located in the eastern part of Slovakia. Bioaugmentation of sediments was performed in microcosms using two bacterial isolates with PCB-degradation ability obtained from the contaminated sediment:
Flow field in a downward diverging channel and its application
Authors: Večeř Marek , Wichterle Kamil 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe flow in a downward divergent channel turns out to be an interesting experimental setup for the observation of upward floating bubbles that appear to be levitating in view of the observer. A more detailed analysis of this flow and its characteristic parameters is necessary for better understanding of this phenomenon. The boundary layer theory was used to derive the velocity field for the experimental setup. The actual flow of a liquid in the presence of a bubble was studied experimentally by measuring the position of the bubble; the data were then statistically processed by an image analysis. Observation of the bubble positions distribution showed that it is reasonable to assume a flat velocity profile of the liquid in the channel and that the bubbles do not tend to move into the boundary layer. In our experiments, volume of the air bubbles floating in water was 200 mm
The Uncanny Valley and the Importance of Eye Contact
Authors: Schwind Valentin , Jäger Solveigh 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
The Uncanny Valley hypothesis describes the negative emotional response of human observers that is evoked by artificial figures or prostheses with a human-like appearance. Many studies have pointed out the meaning of facial features, but did not further investigate the importance of eye contact and its role in decision making about artificial faces. In this study we recorded the number and duration of fixations of participants (N = 53) and recorded gaze movements and fixations on different areas of interest, as well as the response time when a participant judged a face as non-human. In a subsequent questionnaire, we grasped subjective ratings. In our analysis we found correlations between the likeability and the duration of eye fixations on the eye area. The gaze sequences show that artificial faces were visually processed similar to the real ones and mostly remained not assessed as artificial as long as the eye regions were not considered.
5Code – An Integrated Programming Environment for Beginners
Authors: Dahm Markus , Barnjak Frano , Heilemann Moritz 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Based on experience in teaching programming, we developed the integrated development environment (IDE) 5Code especially to support beginners. As a first step, a simple, understandable formula was developed how to advance from the problem to the program in 5 operative steps:

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$read\;it \to get\;it \to think\;it \to note\;it \to code\;it{\rm{.}}$

In order to reduce the cognitive load of the learners effectively, 5Code was designed such that all 5 steps are permanently presented, accessible and executable. Thus, learners are provided with the entire programming context from presentation of the task via own notes and annotations to the code area. Learners can mark and annotate any part of the given task’s text; these annotations can be edited as notes with own comments. Furthermore, the notes can be dragged into the code area, where they are shown as comments in the coding language. Any modifications in the comments are synchronized between notes and code. 5Code is implemented as a web-application. It is used in university introductory courses on object oriented programming.
Role-play Exercises in User Experience-driven Product Development
Authors: Winter Dominique 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Where ideas exist for products or features, User Experience (UX)-related aspects are usually not given enough consideration. Role-play exercises enable the implicit knowledge of experts which then can be used to identify and refine UX-related factors in product ideas. From early childhood, people use role-play to try out roles and get to know them. Their experience provides them with a more in-depth understanding for the roles and also teaches them how to interact with each other. This original learning method can therefore be applied by most people without a great deal of preparation. Personas (i. e. prototypical user) are ultimately a form of role description and are used as a launching point from which to place ourselves in the position of a user. Scenarios offer contextual information and provide a scope for the role-play exercise to move on.
A Review on Successive Interference Cancellation-Based Optical PPM-CDMA Signaling
Authors: Alsowaidi Naif , Eltaif Tawfig , Mokhtar Mohd Ridzuan 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis paper presents a comprehensive review of successive interference cancellation (SIC) scheme using pulse position modulation (PPM) for optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) systems. SIC scheme focuses on high-intensity signal, which will be selected after all users were detected, and then it will be subtracted from the overall received signal, hence, generating a new received signal. This process continues till all users eliminated one by one have been detected. It is shown that the random location of the sequences due to PPM encoding can reduce the probability of concentrated buildup of the pulse overlap in any one-slot time, and support SIC to easily remove the effect of the strongest signal at each stage of the cancellation process. The system bit error rate (BER) performance with modified quadratic congruence (MQC) codes used as signature sequence has been investigated. A detailed theoretical analysis of proposed system taking into account the impact of imperfect interference cancellation, the loss produced from the splitting during encoding and decoding, the channel loss and multiple access interference is presented. Results show that under average effective power constraint optical CDMA system using SIC scheme with
Problem of Generating Interest in and Motivation for Physical Training Lessons in High School Students
Authors: Щирба В. А. 
Published: April 2016

The research objective is to study the factors that effect pupils’ interest in physical education and sports.
Research methods: questionnaires and surveys, analysis of literary sources. The experiment took place at boarding school-lyceé No. 23 “Kadetskyi Korpus”. The participants were 100 high school students.
Research results. The students’ low motivation for activity is conditioned by certain factors whose effect can vary in proportions depending on the youth’s living conditions, environment, and family upbringing. The analysis of reasons behind the high school students’ dissatisfaction with the forms of physical education allows to determine the incentives that help increase the students’ activity. Their answers reveal the need for physical load, active games, and presence of their favorite types of exercises at the lesson, background music, contests, etc.
State of Professional Preparation of Future Physical Training Teachers to Teach Swimming at Children’s Holiday Camps
Authors: Клімакова C. М. 
Published: April 2016

The paper reviews the state of professional preparation of future physical education teachers relying on the comparison of the fundamental documents that shape the professional competence of a swimming instrucror at children’s holiday camps.
The author analyzes and compares the compliance of the educational-qualification standard in the physical education speciality with the requirements of the swimming instructor’s professional duties at children’s holiday camps. The paper compares the compliance of the swimming curricula of the School of Physical Education of H. S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University with the educational-qualification standard in the physical education speciality and the requirements of the swimming instructor’s professional duties at children’s holiday camps.