bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of ungulate exclusion on understorey succession in relation to forest management in the Intermountain Western United States
Authors: Pekin Burak K. , Endress Bryan A. , Wisdom Michael J. , Naylor Bridgett J. , Parks Catherine G. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractQuestionsDo successional trajectories in plant diversity, heterogeneity and dominance respond differently to ungulate exclusion in unmanaged forests vs managed forests that are thinned and burned? Is vegetation in recently thinned and burned stands more sensitive to changes in the grazing regime?LocationNortheast OR, USA.MethodsWe evaluated changes in plant community composition, diversity, heterogeneity and dominance under herbivory by multiple ungulates (cattle, elk, deer) vs ungulate exclusion at sites where trees were recently thinned and a prescribed burn was applied (managed), and in sites that were not thinned or burned in over 40 yr (unmanaged). Plant species diversity was calculated with the Simpsons index and richness as the total number of plant species. We estimated changes in plant community heterogeneity using a measure of taxonomic dissimilarity. Plant dominance was measured as the relative evenness among different plant functional groups (annual and perennial forbs and graminoids, and shrubs, subshrubs and trees).ResultsAs expected, managed sites displayed more early succession species, such as annual forbs and annual graminoids, while unmanaged sites were dominated by late‐succession species such as shrubs, subshrubs and trees. Species richness, particularly of annuals, was strongly reduced when ungulates were excluded from managed sites, and to a lesser extent from unmanaged sites for some perennial plant species. Species diversity decreased to a slightly greater extent with ungulate exclusion at managed sites. Species dominance was not influenced by ungulate exclusion. The effect of ungulate exclusion on plant heterogeneity also depended on forest management. Heterogeneity increased at managed sites and decreased in unmanaged sites with ungulate exclusion. Overall, the change in vegetation composition over time increased with the exclusion of ungulates, particularly at managed sites.ConclusionsThe strength and direction of specific vegetation and diversity responses to ungulate exclusion vary with forest management, and the influence of ungulate exclusion on plant succession is more pronounced in recently thinned and burned sites. Management of wild and domestic ungulates thus needs to account for forest management activities that alter vegetation seral stage and increase the sensitivity of vegetation to the ungulate grazing regime.
Spermatogenesis, sperm cell morphology and accompanying secretions from two interstitial marine mites
Authors: Pepato Almir R. , Antoniazzi Marta M. , Jared Carlos 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe sperm cell morphology and spermatogenesis of Halacaroides antoniazziae Pepato Tiago and da Rocha 2011 and Acaromantis vespucioi Pepato and Tiago 2004 was investigated. Halacaroides sperm cells have a complete acrosomal complex, dense tubules crossing the cytoplasm and modified mitochondria. Mature sperm cells are surrounded by two kinds of secretions. Inside the ejaculatory duct, they lie upon a centre composed of a secretion structured as heaps of elongated bodies. Acaromantis spermatozoa are spindle shaped and lack an acrosomal complex. The plasmalemma is deeply folded; the cytoplasm is very reduced and devoid of organelles. A single kind of globular secretion was found. The sperm mass is surrounded by two layers of amorphous secretions. These species share a peripheral pattern of nuclear condensation during spermatogenesis, a possible apomorphy for most halacarids, and no special adaptation to the interstitial environment could be related to their sperm cell morphology.
High‐dose chemotherapeutics of intravesical chemotherapy rapidly induce mitochondrial dysfunction in bladder cancer‐derived spheroids
Authors: Yoshida Takahiro , Okuyama Hiroaki , Nakayama Masashi , Endo Hiroko , Nonomura Norio , Nishimura Kazuo , Inoue Masahiro 
Published: November 2014

Non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer is treated with intravesical chemotherapy (IVC) after transurethral resection (TUR) to reduce the probability of recurrence. Despite improvement, the recurrence rate remains high. Intravesical chemotherapeutics at high doses are expected to ablate unresected tumors and floating cancer cells after TUR, although the fate of bladder cancer cells exposed to high‐dose chemotherapeutics remains unclear. In this study, we utilized cancer tissue‐originated spheroids (CTOS) prepared from bladder cancers or patient‐derived xenografts, which may recapitulate human tumors better than 2‐D cultures of established cell lines. We exposed CTOS to 1 mg/mL of epirubicin (EPI) or mitomycin C (MMC) for 2 h. EPI was promptly and homogeneously distributed into cancer cells in the CTOS. Two hours after exposure to MMC, the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased and the mitochondria were fragmented, while plasma membrane integrity was maintained. ATP levels rapidly decreased in CTOS after exposure to EPI or MMC. Although activation of the apoptotic pathway was confirmed by the advent of cleaved poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase, fragmentation of DNA (a hallmark of apoptosis) was not observed in CTOS after exposure to EPI and MMC. In the CTOS prepared directly from 19 surgical specimens exposed to EPI and MMC, the decrease of ATP levels varied among patients. Further establishment of the test might help the drug selection and the prediction of recurrence for individual patients.
Intermittent chemotherapy can retain the therapeutic potential of anti‐CD137 antibody during the late tumor‐bearing state
Authors: Tongu Miki , Harashima Nanae , Tamada Koji , Chen Lieping , Harada Mamoru 
Published: November 2014

Immunomodulating monoclonal antibodies (mAb) can evoke antitumor T‐cell responses, which are attenuated by regulatory T cells (Treg) and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Treatment with cyclophosphamide (CP) and gemcitabine (GEM) can mitigate the immunosuppression by Treg and MDSC, respectively. In the current study, we examined the antitumor effects of a combination of local injection with anti‐CD137 mAb and intermittent low‐dose chemotherapy using CP and GEM in subcutaneously established CT26 colon carcinoma. Although a significant antitumor effect was observed when local anti‐CD137 mAb therapy (5 μg) was started early in the tumor‐bearing stage (day 10), no therapeutic efficacy was observed when the mAb therapy was started at a later tumor‐bearing stage (day 17). Analyses of the tumor‐infiltrating immune cells revealed that the number of Gr‐1high/low CD11b+ MDSC started to increase 13 days after tumor inoculation, whereas injection with low‐dose (50 mg/kg) CP and GEM mitigated this increase. In addition, although intermittent injections with low‐dose CP and GEM on days 10 and 18 suppressed tumor growth significantly, additional local injections of anti‐CD137 mAb on days 19, 21, and 23 further augmented the therapeutic efficacy. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes reactive to CT26 and a tumor antigen peptide were induced successfully from the spleen cells of tumor‐cured or tumor‐stable mice. In a bilateral tumor inoculation model, this combination therapy achieved systemic therapeutic effects and suppressed the growth of mAb‐untreated tumors. These results suggest that intermittent immunochemotherapy using CP and GEM could retain the therapeutic potential of anti‐CD137 mAb that is normally impaired during the late tumor‐bearing stage.
A cluster randomized controlled non‐inferiority trial of 5‐day Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) training delivered over 1 week versus 5‐day DAFNE training delivered over 5 weeks: the DAFNE 5 × 1‐day trial
Authors: Elliott J. , Rankin D. , Jacques R. M. , Lawton J. , Emery C. J. , Campbell M. J. , Dixon S. , Heller S. R. ,   the NIHR DAFNE Research Study Group
Published: November 2014

AbstractAimsTo compare, in a randomized controlled non‐inferiority trial, the outcomes of the traditional format for Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating structured education courses; that is, one delivered over 5 consecutive days (1‐week course) with a variant of this format delivered 1 day a week for 5 consecutive weeks (5‐week course).MethodsAdults with Type 1 diabetes, from seven UK Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating training centres, were individually randomized, stratified by centre, to receive either a 1‐week or 5‐week course. A qualitative study was embedded within the trial to explore patients’ experiences.ResultsIn total, 213 patients were randomized and 160 completed the study procedures. In the per‐protocol analysis, the difference in HbA1c levels (95% CI) between the arms at 6 months was 0.4 mmol/mol (−2.4, 3.1) or 0.03% (−0.22, 0.28) and −0.9 mmol/mol (−3.9, 2.2) or −0.08% (−0.36, 0.20) at 12 months. All confidence limits were within the non‐inferiority margin of ± 5.5 mmol/mol (0.5%) for HbA1c%. For those patients with a baseline HbA1c of ≥ 58 mmol/mol (≥ 7.5%) the mean change (95% CI) in HbA1c was −2.2 mmol/mol (−4.0, −0.4) or −0.20% (−0.37, −0.04) at 6 months (P = 0.016), and −2.0 mmol/mol (−4.1, 0.04) or −0.18% (−0.37 to 0.004) at 12 months (P = 0.055). Episodes of severe hypoglycaemia were decreased by 82% [relative risk 0.18 (95% CI 0.03–0.936); P = 0.042], psychosocial outcomes improved significantly, and the difference between arms was not significant. Qualitative interviews showed that patients overwhelmingly favoured the format of course that they attended.ConclusionsIn summary, 5‐week and 1‐week Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating courses are equivalent in terms of biomedical and psychosocial outcomes, and we were persuaded that both course formats should be made available in routine care.
Relation of Left Atrial Stiffness to Insulin Resistance in Obese Children: Doppler Strain Imaging Study
Authors: Mahfouz Ragab A. , Gomma Abdelaziz , Goda Mohamed , Safwat Mohamed 
Published: November 2014

BackgroundThe main objective of the study was to assess the strain measures (peak systolic longitudinal strain [LAS] and stiffness index [LASt]) and their relation to insulin resistance in obese children.Methods and resultsEighty obese children (body mass index was 28.2 ± 3.1) and 60 age‐matched healthy nonobese children were recruited. Conventional, tissue Doppler imaging LAS and LASt were measured for all children using 2D speckle tracking imaging (2DSI). Insulin resistance was assessed for obese children. Mean LAS was lower, and mean LASt was higher in obese children as compared to control group (11.3 + 2.2 vs. 38.2 + 11.6, P < 0.001, and 1.12 ± 0.23 vs. 0.21 ± 0.11, P < 0.001, respectively). LASt was significantly correlated with insulin resistance (P < 0.0001), and a value of >1.0 of LASt was the best cutoff value which can predict insulin resistance in obese children with a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 86%.ConclusionsLAS and LASt differed significantly in obese and nonobese children, in spite of normal left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions. LAS and LASt were associated with insulin resistance in obese children.
Host specificity testing and examination for plant pathogens reveals that the gall‐inducing psyllid Calophya latiforceps is safe to release for biological control of Brazilian peppertree
Authors: Diaz Rodrigo , Manrique Veronica , Munyaneza Joseph E. , Sengoda Venkatesan G. , Adkins Scott , Hendricks Katherine , Roberts Pamela D. , Overholt William A. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractBrazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae), is one of the worst upland exotic weeds in Florida, USA. Foreign exploration for natural enemies led to the discovery of a pit‐galling psyllid, Calophya latiforceps Burckhardt (Hemiptera: Calophyidae), in the state of Bahia, Brazil, in 2010. Crawlers of C. latiforceps stimulate the formation of galls on the leaves of S. terebinthifolia resulting in leaf discoloration and in some cases leaf abscission. To determine whether C. latiforceps is a safe candidate for biological control of S. terebinthifolia, host specificity and the presence of selected plant pathogens were examined. Adult oviposition, gall formation, and adult survival of C. latiforceps were examined on 89 plant species under no‐choice and choice conditions. We found that C. latiforceps laid eggs on plants in seven families; however, crawlers stimulated gall formation and completed development to adult only on S. terebinthifolia. All crawlers on non‐target plants died, likely due to starvation caused either by the absence of a feeding stimulus or by a hypersensitive plant response. Under no‐choice conditions, 10% of adults lived for 19 days on the target weed, but adult survival was reduced to <3 days on non‐target plants. Choice testing revealed that females preferred to oviposit on S. terebinthifolia compared to non‐target plants. Molecular methods and indicator host inoculations did not detect the presence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’, ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’, ‘Ca. L. americanus’, ‘Ca. L. africanus’, or plant viruses in adult C. latiforceps. We conclude that releasing C. latiforceps in the USA will have extremely low risk to non‐target plants, and provides another tool for the management of S. terebinthifolia.
Effect of different desensitizers on inhibition of bovine dentin demineralization: micro‐computed tomography assessment
Authors: Lodha Ena , Hamba Hidenori , Nakashima Syozi , Sadr Alireza , Nikaido Toru , Tagami Junji 
Published: November 2014

This study evaluated the effect of two desensitizers on inhibition of dentin demineralization, after immersion in artificial saliva using micro‐computed tomography (μCT). Dentin blocks cut from bovine incisors were treated with deionized water (DW, a negative control) or one of three desensitizers: a fluoride varnish (Duraphat, a positive control), a calcium phosphate desensitizer (Teethmate Desensitizer), and a fluoro‐alumino‐calcium silicate‐based desensitizer (Nanoseal). After each treatment, the specimens in Duraphat, Nanoseal, and Teethmate Desensitizer groups were pre‐immersed in artificial saliva (pH 6.5) for either 1 d or 1 wk. The mineral loss of the specimens after demineralization (pH 5.0, 3 h) was evaluated by μCT. The treated surface was investigated with scanning electron microscopy. Mineral loss in all treatment groups was significantly lower than that in DW. Duraphat was the most effective treatment against demineralization, followed by Nanoseal. Nanoseal showed significantly better reduction in mineral loss following immersion for 1 wk in artificial saliva than for 1 d. However, Teethmate Desensitizer and Duraphat did not exhibit enhanced inhibition of demineralization over a longer period of immersion in artificial saliva. Scanning electron microscopy images showed deposition of particles on the dentin in both Teethmate Desensitizer. The application of Teethmate Desensitizer and Nanoseal to the exposed dentin surface resulted in inhibition of demineralization, with Nanoseal resulting in improved inhibition after prolonged immersion in artificial saliva.
Effective induction of melanoma‐antigen‐specific CD8+ T cells via Vγ9γδT cell expansion by CD56high+ Interferon‐α‐induced dendritic cells
Authors: Nieda Mie , Terunuma Hiroshi , Eiraku Yuuta , Deng Xuewen , Nicol Andrew J. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractDendritic cells (DCs) can be differentiated from CD14+ monocytes in the presence of interferon‐α (IFNα) and granulocyte/macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) in vitro and are known as IFN‐DCs. Circulating blood CD56+ cells expressing high levels of CD14, HLA‐DR and CD86 have been shown to spontaneously differentiate into DC‐like cells in vitro after their isolation from blood. We show here that IFN‐DCs expressing high levels of CD56 (hereafter, CD56high+ IFN‐DCs) can be differentiated in vitro from monocytes obtained as adherent cells from healthy donors and patients with metastatic melanoma. These cells expressed high levels of CD14, HLA‐DR and CD86 and possessed many pseudopodia. These CD56high+ IFN‐DCs may be an in vitro counterpart of the circulating CD56+ CD14+ CD86+ HLA‐DR+ cells in blood. Conventional mature DCs differentiated from monocytes as adherent cells in the presence of GM‐CSF, IL‐4 and TNF‐α (hereafter, mIL‐4DCs) did not express CD56 or CD14. In contrast to mIL‐4DCs, the CD56high+ IFN‐DCs exhibited a stronger capacity to stimulate autologous CD56+ Vγ9γδT cells highly producing IFNγ in the presence of zoledronate and IL‐2. The CD56high+ IFN‐DCs possessing HLA‐A*0201 effectively induced Mart‐1‐modified melanoma peptide (A27L)‐specific CD8+ T cells through preferential expansion of CD56+ Vγ9γδT cells in the presence of A27L, zoledronate and IL‐2. Vaccination with CD56high+ IFN‐DCs copulsed with tumor antigens and zoledronate may orchestrate the induction of various CD56+ immune cells possessing high effector functions, resulting in strong immunological responses against tumor cells. This study may be relevant to the design of future clinical trials of CD56high+ IFN‐DCs‐based immunotherapies for patients with melanoma.
Dermal dendritic cells, but not Langerhans cells, are critical in murine single epicutaneous sensitization
Authors: Lee Chih‐Hung , Chen Jau‐Shiuh , Chiu Hsien‐Ching , Hong Chien‐Hui , Liu Ching‐Yi , Ta Yng‐Cun , Clausen Bjőrn E. , Ho Ji‐Chen , Wang Li‐Fang 
Published: November 2014

AbstractA murine repeated protein‐patch model has been established to study epicutaneous sensitization in atopic dermatitis. This model has shown a predominant Th2 and a weak Th1 response in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. However, Th responses induced in the repeated model are not consistent with the generally accepted theory that BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice are Th2 and Th1 prone and are representatives of human atopy and non‐atopy, respectively. In this study, a single protein‐patch model was established, which showed in addition to the Th2 response, a remarkable Th1 response in C57BL/6 mice, but not in BALB/c mice. Moreover, using muLangerin‐DTR mice, we demonstrated that dermal dendritic cells, but not Langerhans cells, are critical in single epicutaneous sensitization in both strains of mice.
A Pragmatist Perspective on Building Intercultural Communicative Competency: From Theory to Classroom Practice
Authors: Moeller Aleidine J. , Osborn Sarah R. Faltin 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThis article analyzes and synthesizes the major theoretical frameworks for building intercultural communicative competency (ICC) within the domain of the foreign language classroom. Researchers used a pragmatist orientation as a venue for the translation of theoretical models into usable, accessible guidelines for classroom teachers in order to provide a deeper understanding and clarity of ICC and its implementation in the language classroom.
A Discourse‐Based Approach to CALL Training and Professional Development
Authors: Williams Lawrence , Abraham Lee B. , Bostelmann Evan D. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractPhase 1 of this study explores findings from a nationwide survey on computer‐assisted language learning (CALL) that was completed by 409 in‐service teachers of French, German, and Spanish. These results, in turn, informed specific themes that were explored in greater detail during focus group sessions with 22 in‐service K–12 foreign language teachers (Phase 2). The main theme that emerged from the survey and the focus groups was the perceived need (expressed by in‐service teachers) for future teachers to learn how to think about, analyze, and integrate new technologies into a foreign language curriculum without having to depend on tool‐specific training since prospective teachers will use a number of new technologies—many of which have not yet been developed—throughout their career. Consequently, Phase 3 of this study examines a new component of a foreign language pedagogy course in which 18 prospective teachers studied and applied a faceted classification scheme for analyzing and understanding computer‐mediated discourse as a tool‐independent approach to CALL training.
Impacts of altered precipitation regimes on soil communities and biogeochemistry in arid and semi‐arid ecosystems
Authors: Nielsen Uffe N. , Ball Becky A. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAltered precipitation patterns resulting from climate change will have particularly significant consequences in water‐limited ecosystems, such as arid to semi‐arid ecosystems, where discontinuous inputs of water control biological processes. Given that these ecosystems cover more than a third of Earth's terrestrial surface, it is important to understand how they respond to such alterations. Altered water availability may impact both aboveground and belowground communities and the interactions between these, with potential impacts on ecosystem functioning; however, most studies to date have focused exclusively on vegetation responses to altered precipitation regimes. To synthesize our understanding of potential climate change impacts on dryland ecosystems, we present here a review of current literature that reports the effects of precipitation events and altered precipitation regimes on belowground biota and biogeochemical cycling. Increased precipitation generally increases microbial biomass and fungal:bacterial ratio. Few studies report responses to reduced precipitation but the effects likely counter those of increased precipitation. Altered precipitation regimes have also been found to alter microbial community composition but broader generalizations are difficult to make. Changes in event size and frequency influences invertebrate activity and density with cascading impacts on the soil food web, which will likely impact carbon and nutrient pools. The long‐term implications for biogeochemical cycling are inconclusive but several studies suggest that increased aridity may cause decoupling of carbon and nutrient cycling. We propose a new conceptual framework that incorporates hierarchical biotic responses to individual precipitation events more explicitly, including moderation of microbial activity and biomass by invertebrate grazing, and use this framework to make some predictions on impacts of altered precipitation regimes in terms of event size and frequency as well as mean annual precipitation. While our understanding of dryland ecosystems is improving, there is still a great need for longer term in situ manipulations of precipitation regime to test our model.