bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structural Modeling of Teacher Characteristics, Skills in Teaching, and Students’ Achievement in Secondary School Physics
Authors: Adegoke Adesina Benson , Ajadi Titilayo Adeoye 
Published: April 2016

<p>In this paper, the author examined the relationships between teacher characteristics and teacher teaching skills and the concomitant effects of the relationships on senior secondary school students’ achievement in Physics. It was hypothesized that teachers who were well qualified (that is read physics/mathematics and education in universities) and has considerable years of teaching experience would demonstrate appropriate teaching skills as measured by good lesson preparation, lesson presentation and evaluation of the objectives of the lesson. It was further hypothesized that demonstration of such appropriate teaching skills would encourage students to learn better and do well in Physics. To test these hypotheses, twenty senior secondary school Physics teachers and 863 senior secondary school Physics students were randomly selected from twenty-four senior secondary Schools (SSS) in Ogun and Oyo States, Nigeria. The study lasted for four weeks. Each teacher was observed for 10 lessons and rated using Teacher-students Interaction Observation Schedule. At the end of the fourth week Physics Achievement Test was administered to the students. Results showed that there was a significant and positive relationship between teacher characteristics and teachers’ skill in lesson preparation, presentation and evaluation. Experienced and qualified teachers demonstrated appropriate teaching skills. It was found out that experience and qualified teachers had adequate skills to prepare for physics teaching in schools. It was found that teacher characteristics had influence on students’ achievement in Physics. However, the mediating effect of teacher teaching skills had non-significant effect on students’ achievement in Physics. The results suggest that only qualified people should be employed to teach Physics in senior secondary schools. </p>
Melatonina na insônia primária: Quais as evidências?
Authors: Costa Rui Miguel , Martins Ivone dos Santos 
Published: April 2016

Objetivos: rever as evidências existentes sobre o uso da melatonina no alívio da sintomatologia da Insônia Primária e na melhoria da qualidade de vida em doentes com ≥55 anos de idade. Métodos: pesquisa bibliográfica na base de dados Pubmed e sites de Medicina Baseada de meta-análises (MA), revisões sistemáticas (RS), ensaios clínicos aleatorizados e controlados (ECAC) e normas de orientação clínicas (NOC) utilizando os termos MeSH Melatonin e Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, publicados entre março de 2007 e janeiro de 2013 nas línguas inglesa, portuguesa e espanhola. Para atribuição de níveis de evidência e forças de recomendação, foi utilizada a escala Strenght of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) da American Family Physician. Resultados: foram encontrados 72 artigos; destes, foram incluídos seis: cinco ECAC e uma NOC. Os ECAC referem que a melatonina melhora de forma estatisticamente significativa a qualidade de sono, o estado de alerta matinal e a qualidade de vida comparativamente com o placebo. Também se verificou uma diminuição significativa da latência de sono. Nestes ECAC não se verificaram efeitos de privação após a descontinuação do tratamento. A NOC recomenda que o uso de melatonina em pacientes maiores de 55 anos de idade é preferencial ao uso de um hipnótico no tratamento da insônia. Conclusão: existe evidência suficiente para aconselhar a utilização da melatonina no alívio sintomático da Insônia Primária (SOR A), e na melhoria da qualidade de vida (SOR B). Contudo, são necessários mais estudos, com metodologias rigorosas e seguimento a longo prazo, para a obtenção de resultados mais consistentes.
Effects of Matrix Metalloproteinases on the Performance of Platelet Fibrin Gel Spiked With Cardiac Stem Cells in Heart Repair
Authors: Shen Deliang , Tang Junnan , Hensley Michael Taylor , Li Taosheng , Caranasos Thomas George , Zhang Tianxia , Zhang Jinying , Cheng Ke 
Published: April 2016

Abstract

Stem cells and biomaterials have been studied for therapeutic cardiac repair. Previous studies have shown the beneficial effects of platelet fibrin gel and cardiac stem cells when cotransplanted into rodent hearts with myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in such protection. Thus, the present study is designed to elucidate the effects of MMP inhibition on the therapeutic benefits of intramyocardial injection of platelet fibrin gel spiked with cardiac stem cells (cell-gel) in a rat model of acute MI. In vitro, broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor GM6001 undermines cell spreading and cardiomyocyte contraction. In a syngeneic rat model of myocardial infarction, MMP inhibition blunted the recruitment of endogenous cardiovascular cells into the injected biomaterials, therefore hindering de novo angiogenesis and cardiomyogenesis. Echocardiography and histology 3 weeks after treatment revealed that metalloproteinase inhibition diminished the functional and structural benefits of cell-gel in treating MI. Reduction of host angiogenesis, cardiomyocyte cycling, and MMP-2 activities was evident in animals treated with GM6001. Our findings suggest that MMPs play a critical role in the therapeutic benefits of platelet fibrin gel spiked with cardiac stem cells for treating MI.

Significance
In this study, the effects of matrix metalloproteinase inhibition on the performance of platelet gel spiked with cardiac stem cells (cell-gel) for heart regeneration are explored. The results demonstrate that matrix metalloproteinases are required for cell-gel to exert its benefits in cardiac repair. Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases reduces cell engraftment, host angiogenesis, and recruitment of endogenous cardiovascular cells in rats with heart attack.
Targeting the cAMP and Transforming Growth Factor-β Pathway Increases Proliferation to Promote Re-Epithelialization of Human Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Authors: Choudhary Parul , Gutteridge Alex , Impey Emma , Storer R. Ian , Owen Robert M. , Whiting Paul J. , Bictash Magda , Benn Caroline L. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractRetinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell integrity is critical to the maintenance of retinal function. Many retinopathies such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are caused by the degeneration or malfunction of the RPE cell layer. Replacement of diseased RPE with healthy, stem cell-derived RPE is a potential therapeutic strategy for treating AMD. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) differentiated into RPE progeny have the potential to provide an unlimited supply of cells for transplantation, but challenges around scalability and efficiency of the differentiation process still remain. Using hESC-derived RPE as a cellular model, we sought to understand mechanisms that could be modulated to increase RPE yield after differentiation. We show that RPE epithelialization is a density-dependent process, and cells seeded at low density fail to epithelialize. We demonstrate that activation of the cAMP pathway increases proliferation of dissociated RPE in culture, in part through inhibition of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling. This results in enhanced uptake of epithelial identity, even in cultures seeded at low density. In line with these findings, targeted manipulation of the TGF-β pathway with small molecules produces an increase in efficiency of RPE re-epithelialization. Taken together, these data highlight mechanisms that promote epithelial fate acquisition in stem cell-derived RPE. Modulation of these pathways has the potential to favorably impact scalability and clinical translation of hESC-derived RPE as a cell therapy.SignificanceStem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is currently being evaluated as a cell-replacement therapy for macular degeneration. This work shows that the process of generating RPE in vitro is regulated by the cAMP and transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway. Modulation of these pathways by small molecules, as identified by phenotypic screening, leads to an increased efficiency of generating RPE cells with a higher yield. This can have a potential impact on manufacturing transplantation-ready cells at large scale and is advantageous for clinical studies using this approach in the future.
First applications of a targeted exome sequencing approach in fetuses with ultrasound abnormalities reveals an important fraction of cases with associated gene defects
Authors: Pangalos Constantinos , Hagnefelt Birgitta , Lilakos Konstantinos , Konialis Christopher 
Published: April 2016

Background.Fetal malformations and other structural abnormalities are relatively frequent findings in the course of routine prenatal ultrasonographic examination. Due to their considerable genetic and clinical heterogeneity, the underlying genetic cause is often elusive and the resulting inability to provide a precise diagnosis precludes proper reproductive and fetal risk assessment. We report the development and first applications of an expanded exome sequencing-based test, coupled to a bioinformatics-driven prioritization algorithm, targeting gene disorders presenting with abnormal prenatal ultrasound findings.Methods.We applied the testing strategy to14 euploid fetuses, from 11 on-going pregnancies and three products of abortion, all with various abnormalities or malformations detected through prenatal ultrasound examination. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was followed by variant prioritization, utilizing a custom analysis pipeline (Fetalisalgorithm), targeting 758 genes associated with genetic disorders which may present with abnormal fetal ultrasound findings.Results.A definitive or highly-likely diagnosis was made in 6 of 14 cases (43%), of which 3 were abortuses (Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Nemaline myopathy 2) and 3 involved on-going pregnancies (Citrullinemia, Noonan syndrome,PROKR2-related Kallmann syndrome). In the remaining eight on-going pregnancy cases (57%), aZIC1variant of unknown clinical significance was detected in one case, while in seven cases testing did not reveal any pathogenic variant(s). Pregnancies were followed-up to birth, resulting in one neonate harboring thePROKR2mutation, presenting with isolated minor structural cardiac abnormalities, and in seven apparently healthy neonates.Discussion.The expanded targeted exome sequencing-based approach described herein (Fetalis), provides strong evidence suggesting a definite and beneficial increase in our diagnostic capabilities in prenatal diagnosis of otherwise chromosomally balanced fetuses with troubling ultrasound abnormalities. Furthermore, the proposed targeted exome sequencing strategy, designed primarily as a diagnostic rather than a research discovery tool, overcomes many of the problems and limitations associated with clinical wide-scale WES testing in a prenatal setting.
DChIPRep, an R/Bioconductor package for differential enrichment analysis in chromatin studies
Authors: Chabbert Christophe D. , Steinmetz Lars M. , Klaus Bernd 
Published: April 2016

The genome-wide study of epigenetic states requires the integrative analysis of histone modification ChIP-seq data. Here, we introduce an easy-to-use analytic framework to compare profiles of enrichment in histone modifications around classes of genomic elements, e.g. transcription start sites (TSS). Our framework is available via the user-friendly R/Bioconductor packageDChIPRep.DChIPRepuses biological replicate information as well as chromatin Input data to allow for a rigorous assessment of differential enrichment.DChIPRepis available for download through the Bioconductor project athttp://bioconductor.org/packages/DChIPRep.Contact.DChIPRep@gmail.com.
Modeling nonlinear responses of DOC transport in boreal catchments in Sweden
Authors: Kasurinen Ville , Alfredsen Knut , Ojala Anne , Pumpanen Jukka , Weyhenmeyer Gesa A. , Futter Martyn N. , Laudon Hjalmar , Berninger Frank 
Published: April 2016

AbstractStream water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations display high spatial and temporal variation in boreal catchments. Understanding and predicting these patterns is a challenge with great implications for water quality projections and carbon balance estimates. Although several biogeochemical models have been used to estimate stream water DOC dynamics, model biases common during both rain and snow melt‐driven events. The parsimonious DOC‐model, K‐DOC, with 10 calibrated parameters, uses a nonlinear discharge and catchment water storage relationship including soil temperature dependencies of DOC release and consumption. K‐DOC was used to estimate the stream water DOC concentrations over 5 years for eighteen nested boreal catchments having total area of 68 km2 (varying from 0.04 to 67.9 km2). The model successfully simulated DOC concentrations during base flow conditions, as well as, hydrological events in catchments dominated by organic and mineral soils reaching NSEs from 0.46 to 0.76. Our semimechanistic model was parsimonious enough to have all parameters estimated using statistical methods. We did not find any clear differences between forest and mire‐dominated catchments that could be explained by soil type or tree species composition. However, parameters controlling slow release and consumption of DOC from soil water behaved differently for small headwater catchments (less than 2 km2) than for those that integrate larger areas of different ecosystem types (10–68 km2). Our results emphasize that it is important to account for nonlinear dependencies of both, soil temperature, and catchment water storage, when simulating DOC dynamics of boreal catchments.
Stratigraphy and evolution of the buried CO2 deposit in the Martian south polar cap
Authors: Bierson C. J. , Phillips R. J. , Smith I. B. , Wood S. E. , Putzig N. E. , Nunes D. , Byrne S. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractObservations by the Shallow Radar instrument on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal several deposits of buried CO2 ice within the south polar layered deposits. Here we present mapping that demonstrates this unit is 18% larger than previously estimated, containing enough mass to double the atmospheric pressure on Mars if sublimated. We find three distinct subunits of CO2 ice, each capped by a thin (10–60 m) bounding layer (BL). Multiple lines of evidence suggest that each BL is dominated by water ice. We model the history of CO2 accumulation at the poles based on obliquity and insolation variability during the last 1 Myr assuming a total mass budget consisting of the current atmosphere and the sequestered ice. Our model predicts that CO2 ice has accumulated over large areas several times during that period, in agreement with the radar findings of multiple periods of accumulation.
Comparative study of two tsunamigenic earthquakes in the Solomon Islands: 2015 Mw 7.0 normal‐fault and 2013 Santa Cruz Mw 8.0 megathrust earthquakes
Authors: Heidarzadeh Mohammad , Harada Tomoya , Satake Kenji , Ishibe Takeo , Gusman Aditya Riadi 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe July 2015 Mw 7.0 Solomon Islands tsunamigenic earthquake occurred ~40 km north of the February 2013 Mw 8.0 Santa Cruz earthquake. The proximity of the two epicenters provided unique opportunities for a comparative study of their source mechanisms and tsunami generation. The 2013 earthquake was an interplate event having a thrust focal mechanism at a depth of 30 km while the 2015 event was a normal‐fault earthquake occurring at a shallow depth of 10 km in the overriding Pacific Plate. A combined use of tsunami and teleseismic data from the 2015 event revealed the north dipping fault plane and a rupture velocity of 3.6 km/s. Stress transfer analysis revealed that the 2015 earthquake occurred in a region with increased Coulomb stress following the 2013 earthquake. Spectral deconvolution, assuming the 2015 tsunami as empirical Green's function, indicated the source periods of the 2013 Santa Cruz tsunami as 10 and 22 min.
Atlantic near‐term climate variability and the role of a resolved Gulf Stream
Authors: Siqueira Leo , Kirtman Ben P. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThere is a continually increasing demand for near‐term (i.e., lead times up to a couple of decades) climate information. This demand is partly driven by the need to have robust forecasts and is partly driven by the need to assess how much of the ongoing climate change is due to natural variability and how much is due to anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gases or other external factors. Here we discuss results from a set of state‐of‐the‐art climate model experiments in comparison with observational estimates that show that an assessment of predictability requires models that capture the variability of major oceanic fronts, which are, at best, poorly resolved and may even be absent in the near‐term prediction of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change class models. This is the first time that air‐sea interactions associated with resolved Gulf Stream sea surface temperature have been identified in the context of a state‐of‐the‐art global coupled climate model with inferred near‐term predictability.
Risk of Infection Associated With Subsequent Biologic Agent Use After Rituximab: Results From a National Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient Registry
Authors: Harrold Leslie R. , Reed George W. , Karki Chitra , Magner Robert , Shewade Ashwini , John Ani , Kremer Joel M. , Greenberg Jeffrey D. 
Published: April 2016

ObjectiveTo assess whether the time between the last rituximab infusion and initiation of a different biologic agent influenced infection risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsPatients with RA who newly initiated rituximab within the Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America registry were included if they switched to a nonrituximab biologic agent and had ≥1 followup visit within 12 months of switching. Patients were categorized by duration of time between their last rituximab infusion and initiation of a subsequent biologic agent (≤5 months, 6–11 months, and ≥12 months). The primary outcome was time to first infectious event. Adjusted Cox regression models estimated the association between time to starting a subsequent biologic agent and infection.ResultsA total of 44 overall infections (7 serious, 37 nonserious) were reported during the 12‐month followup in the 215 patients included in this analysis (104 switched at ≤5 months, 67 at 6–11 months, and 44 at ≥12 months). Median (interquartile range) time to infection was 4 (2–5) months. Infection rates per patient‐year in the ≤5‐month, 6–11‐month, and ≥12‐month groups were 0.34 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.22–0.52), 0.30 (95% CI 0.17–0.52), and 0.41 (95% CI 0.22–0.77), respectively. After adjustment, time to switch to a subsequent biologic agent was not associated with infection, which remained unchanged when number and rate of rituximab retreatments were included in the models.ConclusionIn this real‐world cohort of patients with RA, infection rates ranged from 0.30 to 0.41 per patient‐year, with no significant difference in the rate between patients who initiated a subsequent biologic agent earlier versus later after rituximab treatment.
A Chiral N,N′‐Dioxide–ZnII Complex Catalyzes the Enantioselective [2+2] Cycloaddition of Alkynones with Cyclic Enol Silyl Ethers
Authors: Kang Tengfei , Ge Shulin , Lin Lili , Lu Yan , Liu Xiaohua , Feng Xiaoming 
Published: April 2016

AbstractA highly efficient enantioselective [2+2] cycloaddition between alkynones and cyclic enol silyl ethers was developed by using a chiral N,N′‐dioxide‐zinc(II) complex as a catalyst. This method functions well for a variety of terminal alkynes as well as cyclic enol silyl ethers, with good to excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee). This is also the first successful example for the catalytic enantioselective [2+2] cycloaddition of internal alkynes with cyclic enol silyl ethers to give fully substituted cyclobutenes. Meanwhile, the desired cyclobutene product can easily be transformed into fused cyclobutane derivatives.
From Complex Natural Products to Simple Synthetic Mimetics by Computational De Novo Design
Authors: Friedrich Lukas , Rodrigues Tiago , Neuhaus Claudia S. , Schneider Petra , Schneider Gisbert 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWe present the computational de novo design of synthetically accessible chemical entities that mimic the complex sesquiterpene natural product (−)‐Englerin A. We synthesized lead‐like probes from commercially available building blocks and profiled them for activity against a computationally predicted panel of macromolecular targets. Both the design template (−)‐Englerin A and its low‐molecular weight mimetics presented nanomolar binding affinities and antagonized the transient receptor potential calcium channel TRPM8 in a cell‐based assay, without showing target promiscuity or frequent‐hitter properties. This proof‐of‐concept study outlines an expeditious solution to obtaining natural‐product‐inspired chemical matter with desirable properties.
Histology of the Skin of Three Limbless Squamates Dwelling in Mesic and Arid Environments
Authors: Allam Ahmed A. , Daza Juan D. , Abo‐Eleneen Rasha E. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTThe skin of limbless squamates has an increased contact with the substrate compared with limbed counterparts. Comparatively, the contact with the substrate is intensified in fossorial species, where the whole circumference of the body interacts with the soil during underground locomotion. Although fossoriality in Squamata, specifically lizards and snakes, has been studied ecologically and morphologically (e.g., osteological changes), not enough detail is yet available regarding changes in organs critical for underground lifestyle such as the skin. Here we used histological and microscopical techniques (scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy) to uncover the structural detail of the epidermis and dermis in three limbless reptiles, the amphisbaenian Diplometopon zarudnyi, and two snakes, Indotyphlops braminus (Typhlopidae) and Cerastes cerastes (Viperidae). The skin of these taxa shows pronounced morphological diversity, which is likely associated to different environmental and functional demands upon these reptiles. Anat Rec, 299:979–989, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.